Plaintiff
- Name: Geovanni Bahena Figueroa
- Filing Date: February 6, 2026
- Court: United States District Court Northern District of Illinois
- State: Illinois
- Attorney Firm: Stein Saks, PLLC
Defendant
- Name: The Music Emporium, Inc.
- Website: www.themusicemporium.com
- Industry: Consumer Goods
- Standards Cited: WCAG 2.1
- Summary: A specialty retailer focused on fine acoustic instruments, offering curated selections of guitars, mandolin-family instruments, banjos, ukuleles, and supporting accessories.
Case Summary
According to the complaint, Plaintiff GEOVANNI BAHENA FIGUEROA, a visually-impaired individual, is suing THE MUSIC EMPORIUM, INC. for failing to make its website, www.themusicemporium.com, accessible under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The plaintiff alleges that he encountered numerous barriers while attempting to access the website to purchase a Northfield Big Mon Sunburst instrument, including missing alt-text and broken links, which prevented him from enjoying the same shopping experience as sighted individuals. The plaintiff seeks a permanent injunction requiring the defendant to make its website accessible and to comply with WCAG 2.1 guidelines.
Causes of Action
- Violations of the ADA, 42 U.S.C. § 12182 et seq.
- Declaratory Relief
Key Allegations
- Defendant’s website is not accessible to blind and visually impaired individuals.
- Plaintiff encountered barriers that denied full access to the website.
- Defendant failed to comply with WCAG 2.1 guidelines.
Requested Relief
- A preliminary and permanent injunction to prohibit Defendant from violating the ADA.
- An order requiring Defendant to make its website fully compliant with the ADA.
- A declaration that Defendant's website discriminates against the blind.
Proposed Class
All legally blind individuals in the United States who have attempted to access Defendant’s Website and as a result have been denied access to the equal enjoyment of goods and services, during the relevant statutory period.
Jurisdiction & Venue
This Court has subject-matter jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1331 and 42 U.S.C. § 12182.
