Plaintiff
- Name: Mary Ann Deinnocentes
- Filing Date: February 20, 2026
- Court: United States District Court Northern District of Indiana
- State: Indiana
- Attorney Firm: Equal Access Law Group, PLLC
Defendant
- Name: Back to the Roots, Inc.
- Website: backtotheroots.com
- Industry: Consumer Goods
- Standards Cited: WCAG 2.2
- Summary: Provides consumers access to an array of organic gardening products, including grow kits, planters, seeds, soils, and plant supplies such as fertilizers, soil amendments, and tools.
Case Summary
According to the complaint, Mary Ann Deinnocentes, a visually impaired individual, is suing Back to the Roots, Inc. for failing to make its website, https://backtotheroots.com/, accessible to blind users. Deinnocentes alleges that the website contains significant barriers that prevent her and others from independently navigating and completing transactions. The complaint cites violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and seeks a permanent injunction to require the defendant to make necessary changes to the website, as well as compensatory damages for affected individuals. Deinnocentes claims that the website's design relies heavily on visual elements, making it unusable for those who depend on screen-reading software.
Causes of Action
- Violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
- Declaratory Relief
Key Allegations
- Website is inaccessible to visually impaired individuals
- Denial of full and equal access to goods and services offered through the Website
- Failure to comply with ADA standards for accessibility
Requested Relief
- Permanent injunction to require Defendant to make the Website accessible
- Compensatory damages for Class Members
- Certification of the case as a class action
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).
