Plaintiff
- Name: Shaleah Raines, Karen Blachowicz
- Filing Date: May 6, 2026
- Court: United States District Court Southern District of Indiana
- State: Indiana
- Attorney Firm: Nye, Stirling, Hale, Miller, Sweet LLP
Defendant
- Name: Charleston Tea Gardens, LLC
- Website: charlestonteagarden.com
- Industry: Beverages
- Standards Cited: WCAG 2.1
- Summary: Designs, develops, manufactures, and distributes tea and related products.
Case Summary
According to the complaint, plaintiffs SHALEAH RAINES and KAREN BLACHOWICZ are suing CHARLESTON TEA GARDENS, LLC for failing to make its digital properties accessible to individuals with visual disabilities, violating the ADA and New York State Human Rights Law. They allege that they encountered significant barriers while attempting to access the defendant's website to purchase products, which prevented them from completing their transactions. The plaintiffs seek a permanent injunction to require the defendant to improve accessibility on its website and request compensatory damages and attorneys' fees. The case highlights the importance of digital accessibility for individuals with disabilities.
Causes of Action
- Title III of the ADA
- 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 access to Defendant's online goods and services.
- Defendant failed to implement adequate corporate policies for accessibility.
Requested Relief
- Permanent injunction requiring Defendant to make its Digital Platform accessible.
- Payment of reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs.
- Payment of compensatory damages pursuant to N.Y. Exec. Law § 290, et seq.
- 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.
