MONEGRO v. PHILIPS ELECTRONICS NORTH AMERICA CORPORATION

    Plaintiff

    • Name: Frankie Monegro
    • Filing date: August 5, 2020
    • State of filing: New York

    Defendant

    • Name: Philips Electronics North America Corporation
    • Website: usa.phillips.com
    • Industry: Consumer Goods
    • Summary: Phillips is a multinational corporation manufacturing and selling electronics, household products, personal care items, lighting, automotive, and other related consumer goods.

    Case Summary

    On August 5, 2020, Frankie Monegro filed a Complaint in New York Federal court against Philips Electronics North America Corporation. Plaintiff Frankie Monegro alleges that usa.phillips.com is not accessible per the WCAG 2.0 accessibility standard(s).

    Case Details

    Plaintiff alleges issues in its Complaint including the following:

    • Many features on the Website lacks alt. text, which is the invisible code embedded beneath a graphical image. 
    • Many features on the Website also fail to Add a label element or title attribute for each field.
    • Many pages on the Website also contain the same title elements.
    • The Website also contained a host of broken links, which is a hyperlink to a nonexistent or empty webpage. 

    Plaintiff asserts the following cause(s) of action in its Complaint:

    • Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. § 12181 et seq. 
    • New York City Human Rights Law
    • Declaratory Relief

    Plaintiff seeks the following relief by way of its Complaint:

    • A preliminary and permanent injunction to prohibit Defendant from violating the Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 12182, et seq., N.Y.C. Administrative Code § 8-107, et seq., and the laws of New York;
    • A preliminary and permanent injunction requiring Defendant to take all the steps necessary to make its Website into full compliance with the requirements set forth in the ADA, and its implementing regulations, so that
      the Website is readily accessible to and usable by blind individuals;
    • A declaration that Defendant owns, maintains and/or operates its Website in a manner that discriminates against the blind and which fails to provide access for persons with disabilities as required by Americans with
      Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 12182, et seq., N.Y.C. Administrative Code § 8-107, et seq., and the laws of New York
    • An order certifying the Class and Sub-Classes under Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(a) & (b)(2) and/or (b)(3), appointing Plaintiff as Class Representative, and his attorneys as Class Counsel;
    • Compensatory damages in an amount to be determined by proof, including all applicable statutory and punitive damages and fines, to Plaintiff and the proposed class and subclasses for violations of their civil rights under New York City Human Rights Law and City Law;
    • Pre- and post-judgment interest;
    • An award of costs and expenses of this action together with reasonable attorneys’ and expert fees; and
    • Such other and further relief as this Court deems just and proper. 

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