Michael Wood v. Catalina Rug Gallery, Inc.

Case Summary

According to the complaint, Michael Wood, a visually impaired individual, is suing Catalina Rug Gallery, Inc. for failing to make its website, https://www.catalinarug.com/, accessible to blind users. Wood alleges that the website contains significant barriers that prevent him and others from completing transactions independently. The complaint cites violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and seeks a permanent injunction to require the defendant to make the website accessible, along with compensatory damages for affected individuals. Wood encountered numerous accessibility issues, including lack of alt-text for images and reliance on mouse navigation, which hindered his ability to shop online. He intends to return to the website once the barriers are removed.

Causes of Action

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

Key Allegations

• Website is inaccessible to visually impaired individuals
• Defendant failed to remove access barriers on its Website
• Plaintiff was denied the ability to independently navigate and make purchases on the Website

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
• Award of costs and expenses of this 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).