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Alfred Trippett v. The Museum of Modern Art d/b/a Moma Design Store

Filed

Case details

Summary

According to the complaint, plaintiff Alfred Trippett, on behalf of himself and others similarly situated, is suing The Museum of Modern Art, doing business as MoMA Design Store, for failing to provide equal access to its website, https://store.moma.org/. The complaint alleges that the website contains multiple accessibility barriers that prevent blind users from independently navigating and completing transactions. Specific issues include unlabeled dropdown menus, inaccessible promotional pop-ups, and missing alt text for images. Plaintiffs seek injunctive relief to require the defendant to make the website accessible and compensatory damages for violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act and New York State laws.

About the defendant

Offers a wide range of retail items, including home goods, toys, books, design objects, and electronic products for online browsing and purchase.

What the complaint says

The problems the plaintiff describes with the website.

  • Plaintiff is legally blind and requires screen-reading software to navigate the website.
  • The website contains barriers preventing blind users from navigating and conducting transactions independently.
  • Barriers include unlabeled dropdown menus, inaccessible promotional pop-ups, duplicate product links, missing alt text, and keyboard traps during checkout.
  • Defendant has failed to design, maintain, or update its website to be accessible.

Legal claims

The laws the plaintiff says the defendant broke, called causes of action.

  • Violation of 42 U.S.C. §§ 12181 et seq. – Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act
  • Violation of New York State Human Rights Law, N.Y. Exec. Law Article 15 (Executive Law § 292 et seq.)
  • Violation of New York State Civil Rights Law, NY CLS Civ R, Article 4 (CLS Civ R § 40 et seq.)
  • Violation of New York City Human Rights Law, N.Y.C. Administrative Code § 8-102, et seq.
  • Declaratory Relief

What the plaintiff asks for

What the plaintiff wants the court to order.

  • Injunctive relief requiring Defendant to make its website accessible to blind individuals.
  • Compensatory damages for violations of civil rights under New York State Human Rights Law and City Law.
  • Plaintiff’s reasonable attorneys' fees, expenses, and costs of suit.

Proposed class

The group of people the plaintiff asks to represent, so the case can cover them too.

All legally blind individuals in the United States who have attempted to access https://store.moma.org/ and were denied equal access, with a New York subclass of legally blind individuals who reside in New York.