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).
