Morgan Cole v. Dharma Trading Co.

Case Summary

According to the complaint, Morgan Cole, a visually impaired individual, is suing Dharma Trading Co. for failing to make its website, dharmatrading.com, accessible to blind users. Cole alleges that the website contains significant barriers that prevent visually impaired individuals from independently navigating and completing purchases. 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. Cole encountered multiple accessibility issues, including lack of alternative text for images and reliance on mouse navigation, which hindered his ability to shop online. The plaintiff seeks to represent a class of similarly situated individuals who have faced similar barriers.

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 on the Website
• Failure to comply with ADA requirements

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 the Website discriminates against visually impaired individuals
• Class action certification

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).