Laurence Wills v. POPPY’S CAFÉ + BAKERY, LLC

Case Summary

According to the complaint, Laurence Wills, a visually impaired individual, is suing Poppy’s Café + Bakery, LLC for failing to make its website accessible as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and New York City Human Rights Law (NYCHRL). Wills alleges that he encountered multiple barriers while attempting to access the website, www.poppysbrooklyn.com, to place an online order for vegetarian dishes. The complaint details various access issues, including missing alt-text and broken links, which prevented him from using the website effectively. Wills seeks a permanent injunction to require the defendant to make the website accessible and claims damages for the discrimination he faced due to the website's inaccessibility.

Causes of Action

• Violations of the ADA, 42 U.S.C. § 12182 et seq.
• Violations of the NYCHRL
• Declaratory Relief

Key Allegations

• Defendant’s website is not accessible to blind and visually impaired individuals.
• Plaintiff was denied the ability to place an online order due to access barriers on the website.
• Defendant has failed to comply with the ADA and NYCHRL by not removing access barriers.

Requested Relief

• Permanent injunction requiring Defendant to make its Website accessible to blind individuals.
• Compensatory damages for violations of civil rights under New York City Human Rights Law.
• Certification of the Class and Sub-Classes.

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, and venue is proper under 28 U.S.C. §1391(b)(1) and (2).