Plaintiff
- Name: Susan Russo
- Filing Date: July 6, 2026
- Court: United States District Court Southern District of New York
- State: New York
- Attorney Firm: Joseph & Norinsberg, LLC
Defendant
- Name: California Natural Living, Inc.
- Website: www.californiababy.com
- Industry: Consumer Goods
- Standards Cited: WCAG 2.1 Level AA
- Summary: Natural Living, Inc. operates an e-commerce platform selling plant-based, certified-organic baby and personal care products, including skincare and sun protection items.
Case Summary
According to the complaint, Susan Russo, a visually impaired individual, is suing California Natural Living, Inc. for accessibility violations on its website, www.californiababy.com. Russo alleges that she faced multiple barriers while attempting to purchase products, including missing alternative text and broken ARIA controls, which prevented her from completing transactions. The complaint cites violations of the ADA and New York laws, seeking injunctive relief to ensure the website is accessible to blind users and compensatory damages for the discrimination faced. The plaintiff's attempts to access the site occurred in February, April, and June 2026, highlighting ongoing issues despite the defendant's claims of accessibility compliance.
Causes of Action
- Violations of the ADA, 42 U.S.C. § 12182 et seq.
- Violations of the New York City Human Rights Law (NYCHRL)
- Violations of the New York State Human Rights Law (NYSHRL)
- Violation of New York State Civil Rights (NYCRL)
- Declaratory Relief
Key Allegations
- Plaintiff encountered accessibility barriers on multiple occasions preventing her from completing purchases on the website.
- Defendant's website lacks alternative text on images, accessible form labels, and has broken ARIA controls.
- Defendant falsely represented its website as accessible despite known issues.
Requested Relief
- Injunctive relief to compel remediation of the website's accessibility issues.
- Compensatory damages for violations of civil rights under applicable laws.
- Certification of the class and subclasses.
Proposed Class
all legally blind individuals in the United States who have attempted to access Defendant’s Website, www.californiababy.com, and as a result have been denied access to the equal enjoyment of goods and services, during the relevant statutory period.
Jurisdiction & Venue
This Court has subject matter jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331 and 1343, as this case arises under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
