Lucas Rice v. Belnick, LLC

Case Summary

According to the complaint, Lucas Rice, a visually impaired individual, is suing Belnick, LLC for failing to make its website, Foldingchairs4less.com, accessible to blind users. Rice alleges that the website contains significant barriers that prevent him and others from independently navigating and completing purchases. The complaint cites violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and seeks both injunctive relief to make the website accessible and compensatory damages for affected users. Rice claims that the website's design relies on visual elements that are not compatible with screen-reading software, thus denying equal access to visually impaired individuals.

Causes of Action

• Violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
• Declaratory Relief

Key Allegations

• Website is inaccessible to visually impaired individuals
• Access barriers prevent independent navigation and purchases
• Defendant failed to implement necessary accessibility features

Requested Relief

• Preliminary and permanent injunction to prohibit Defendant from violating the ADA
• Injunction requiring Defendant to make the Website compliant with the ADA
• Declaration that Defendant discriminates against the visually impaired
• Order certifying this case as a class action
• Pre- and post-judgment interest
• Award of costs and expenses of this action together with reasonable attorneys’ and expert fees

Proposed Class

all legally blind individuals in the United States who have attempted to access the Website and as a result have been denied access to the enjoyment of goods and services offered by the Website, 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).