Plaintiff
- Name: Kelly Smith, Jessica Meyer
- Filing Date: February 4, 2026
- Court: United States District Court Northern District of Illinois
- State: Illinois
- Attorney Firm: Nye, Stirling, Hale, Miller, Sweet LLP
Defendant
- Name: Grand Brands, Inc.
- Website: www.truecitrus.com
- Industry: Beverages
- Summary: Designs, develops, manufactures, and distributes drink mixes and related products.
Case Summary
According to the complaint, plaintiffs Kelly Smith and Jessica Meyer, both legally blind, are suing Grand Brands, Inc. for failing to make its digital platform accessible, violating the Americans with Disabilities Act and, for Jessica Meyer, the New York State Human Rights Law. They allege that they encountered significant barriers while attempting to access the website to purchase drink mixes, including issues with screen reader compatibility and unlabeled elements. The plaintiffs seek a permanent injunction to require the defendant to improve accessibility, along with attorneys' fees, and Jessica Meyer seeks compensatory damages.
Causes of Action
- Violation of Title III of the ADA
- Violation of New York State Human Rights Law (brought by Jessica Meyer only)
Key Allegations
- Defendant's digital properties are not accessible to legally blind individuals.
- Plaintiffs encountered barriers that denied them full access to the digital platform.
- Defendant failed to implement adequate corporate policies for accessibility.
Requested Relief
- Permanent injunction requiring accessibility improvements to the digital platform.
- Payment of costs and reasonable attorneys' fees.
- Compensatory damages for violations of the New York State Human Rights Law (sought by Jessica Meyer only).
Jurisdiction & Venue
Jurisdiction is invoked under 28 U.S.C. § 1331 and 42 U.S.C. § 12188; venue is proper under 28 U.S.C. § 1391(b)(2).
