Plaintiff
- Name: Lucas Rice, Christopher Walters
- Filing Date: April 29, 2026
- Court: United States District Court Eastern District of Wisconsin
- State: Wisconsin
- Attorney Firm: Nye, Stirling, Hale, Miller, Sweet LLP
Defendant
- Name: Panasonic Corporation of North America
- Website: us.technics.com
- Industry: Consumer Durables & Apparel
- Standards Cited: ADA, WCAG 2.1
- Summary: Designs, develops, manufactures, and distributes turntables, amplifiers, headphones, speakers, and related products.
Case Summary
According to the complaint, plaintiffs Lucas Rice and Christopher Walters are legally blind individuals suing Panasonic Corporation of North America for failing to make its digital properties accessible, violating the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and New York State Human Rights Law. They allege that they encountered significant barriers while attempting to access the company's website, which prevented them from purchasing products. The plaintiffs seek a permanent injunction to require the defendant to improve accessibility, along with compensatory damages and attorneys' fees.
Causes of Action
- Title III of the ADA, 42 U.S.C. § 12181 et seq.
- Violation of New York State Human Rights Law, Exec. Law, Article 15 § 290, et seq.
Key Allegations
- Defendant's digital properties are not accessible to legally blind individuals.
- Plaintiffs encountered barriers that denied them full and equal access to Defendant's online goods, content, and services.
Requested Relief
- A Declaratory Judgment that Defendant was in violation of the ADA and New York laws.
- A permanent injunction requiring Defendant to make its Digital Platform accessible.
- Payment of costs of suit.
- Payment of reasonable attorneys’ fees.
- Payment of compensatory damages pursuant to New York law.
- Payment of nominal damages.
Jurisdiction & Venue
This Court’s jurisdiction is invoked pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1331, 28 U.S.C.A. § 1367 and 42 U.S.C. § 12188.
