Plaintiff
- Name: Josue Romero
- Filing date: October 21, 2020
- State of filing: New York
Defendant
- Name: Campmor, Inc.
- Website: www.campmor.com
- Industry: Leisure Products
- Summary: Campmor sells sporting and outdoor goods, camping equipment, boots, apparel, gear, and related accessories via its website.
Case Summary
On October 21, 2020, Josue Romero filed a Complaint in New York Federal court against Campmor, Inc.. Plaintiff Josue Romero alleges that www.campmor.com is not accessible per the WCAG 2.0, WCAG 2.1 accessibility standard(s).
Case Details
Plaintiff alleges issues in its Complaint including the following:
- Lack of Alternative Text (“alt-text”), or a text equivalent. Alt-text is an invisible code embedded beneath a graphical image on a website. Web accessibility requires that alt-text be coded with each picture so that screen-reading software can speak the alt-text where a sighted user sees pictures, which includes captcha prompts. Alt- text does not change the visual presentation, but instead a text box shows when the cursor moves over the picture. The lack of alt-text on these graphics prevents screen readers from accurately vocalizing a description of the graphics
- Empty Links That Contain No Text causing the function or purpose of the link to not be presented to the user. This can introduce confusion for keyboard and screen- reader users;
- Redundant Links where adjacent links go to the same URL address which results in additional navigation and repetition for keyboard and screen-reader users; and
- Linked Images Missing Alt-text, which causes problems if an image within a link contains no text and that image does not provide alt-text. A screen reader then has no content to present the user as to the function of the link, including information contained in PDFs.
- Site element like promotion located at the header of the website is inaccessible when navigating with a keyboard. The promotion is not properly labeled and thus the user misses out on information that would be readily available for a sighted user.
- Siteelementlikesometextisspelledoutandnotreadasawholeword.Thisfla w causes confusion to a visually disabled user who may not understand the spelling and creates a barrier when trying to navigate the site and cannot understand the information the site is to convey.
- The company logo acts as a link designed to take the user from wherever they may be within the Defendant's website to the homepage of that site. For this website, the link is not properly labeled and where the link ("logo") will operate properly (taking the user back to the home page), the missing label prevents the user (visually impaired) to interpret the logo/link and in the case of using a screen reader, the screen reader software cannot properly interpret the logo/link effectively hiding the purpose of that link from the user.
- Link like shopping cart is not labeled properly. Its description is "zero zero dollars". This flaw creates issues for the interpretation performed by the screen reader, as the user cannot confirm what the purchase is and, therefore, bars the user from receiving vital information to complete the transaction.
- Products have text that describe the item, details of the item and price. The product pricing is not labeled to integrate with screen reader and, therefore, overlooks important information that a customer would require to complete a purchase.
- Site elements such as icons located at the footer of the site, (Free Shipping, 90 day Return Policy and Over 40 years in business) have "read more" links associated with them, however, this is no description as to what the "read more" links refer to.
- Contact information is inaccessible. Due to the lack of description the user is not able to contact the business as the address and telephone number are not labeled to integrate with the screen reader.
Plaintiff asserts the following cause(s) of action in its Complaint:
- VIOLATIONS OF THE ADA, 42 U.S.C. § 12181 et seq
- VIOLATIONS OF THE NYSHRL
- VIOLATIONS OF THE NEW YORK STATE CIVIL RIGHTS LAW
- VIOLATIONS OF THE NYCHRL
- 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
