Plaintiff
- Name: Susan Russo
- Filing Date: September 29, 2026
- Court: United States District Court Southern District of New York
- State: New York
- Attorney Firm: Joseph & Norinsberg, LLC
Defendant
- Name: Pacha Soap Co.
- Website: www.pachasoap.com
- Industry: Consumer Goods
- Standards Cited: WCAG 2.1 Level A and AA success criteria
- Summary: Markets and sells handcrafted bath and body products, including soaps and skincare items, through an e-commerce platform.
Case Summary
According to the complaint, Susan Russo, a legally blind consumer, is suing Pacha Soap Co. for violations of the ADA due to the inaccessibility of its e-commerce website, www.pachasoap.com. Russo alleges that she encountered multiple barriers while attempting to purchase specific bath and body products, including missing alternative text and empty buttons, which prevented her from accessing essential product information. The complaint cites violations of federal and state laws and seeks injunctive relief to ensure the website is accessible to blind users, as well as compensatory damages for the discrimination faced.
Causes of Action
- Violations of the ADA, 42 U.S.C. § 12182 et seq.
- Violations of the New York State Human Rights Law (NYSHRL)
- Violation of the New York State Civil Rights Law (NYCRL)
- Violations of the New York City Human Rights Law (NYCHRL)
- Declaratory Relief
Key Allegations
- Defendant's website is inaccessible to blind users due to missing alternative text, empty buttons, and broken ARIA references.
- Plaintiff encountered multiple accessibility barriers preventing her from completing purchases on the website.
- Defendant failed to comply with WCAG 2.1 standards for digital accessibility.
Requested Relief
- Preliminary and permanent injunction prohibiting Defendant from violating the ADA and New York laws.
- Injunction requiring Defendant to make the Website fully compliant with the ADA.
- Compensatory damages in an amount to be determined by proof, including statutory and punitive damages.
- Award of costs and expenses of this action together with reasonable attorneys' and expert fees.
Proposed Class
All legally blind individuals in the United States who have attempted to access www.pachasoap.com and were denied equal access to its digital content, product information, and online purchasing functions due to persistent accessibility barriers during the relevant statutory period.
Jurisdiction & Venue
This Court has subject matter jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1331 and 42 U.S.C. § 12188, with supplemental jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1367.
