James Evans v. FISHPOND, INC.

    Plaintiff

    • Name: JAMES EVANS
    • Filing Date: November 5, 2025
    • Court: United States District Court Northern District of Illinois
    • State: Illinois
    • Attorney Firm: EQUAL ACCESS LAW GROUP, PLLC

    Defendant

    • Name: Fishpond, Inc.
    • Website: www.fishpondusa.com
    • Industry: Retailing
    • Summary: Fishpondusa.com provides consumers with access to an array of goods and services, including fly-fishing gear, bags, packs, landing nets, fly boxes, storage accessories, fishing tools, and luggage.

    Case Summary

    According to the complaint, Plaintiff JAMES EVANS, a legally blind individual, is suing Fishpond, Inc. for failing to make their website, Fishpondusa.com, accessible to blind and visually-impaired users. The complaint alleges that the website contains significant access barriers that prevent users from completing transactions independently. Specific issues include ambiguous link texts, lack of alt-text for images, and the requirement to use a mouse for navigation. Plaintiffs allege that these barriers violate the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and seek a permanent injunction to require Fishpond to make its website accessible, along with compensatory damages for the discrimination experienced by the class members.

    Causes of Action

    • Violation of 42 U.S.C. §§ 12181 et seq. – Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act
    • Declaratory Relief
    • Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress

    Key Allegations

    • Defendant's website is inaccessible to blind and visually-impaired persons
    • Plaintiff was denied the ability to complete a purchase on Fishpondusa.com due to accessibility barriers
    • Defendant failed to make reasonable modifications to its website to accommodate individuals with disabilities

    Requested Relief

    • A preliminary and permanent injunction to prohibit Defendant from violating the Americans with Disabilities Act
    • A declaration that Defendant's website discriminates against the blind
    • Compensatory damages in an amount to be determined at trial

    Proposed Class

    all legally blind individuals in the United States who have attempted to access Fishpondusa.com and as a result have been denied access to the enjoyment of goods and services offered by Fishpondusa.com, 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; venue is proper under 28 U.S.C. §1391(b)(1) and (2).

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