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Benjamin Butler v. Louis Vuitton North America, Inc., Louis Vuitton Malletier S.A.S.

Filed

Case details

Standards cited
WCAG 2.1 Level AA

Summary

According to the complaint, Benjamin Butler, a legally blind individual, is suing Louis Vuitton North America, Inc. and Louis Vuitton Malletier S.A.S. for failing to make their website, https://us.louisvuitton.com, accessible to blind and visually impaired users. Mr. Butler alleges that he encountered multiple barriers while attempting to browse and purchase luxury goods, including missing alternative text for product images and inaccessible interactive elements. The complaint cites violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act and seeks injunctive relief to require the defendants to remediate these accessibility issues, as well as compensatory damages for the discrimination faced by him and other blind consumers.

About the defendant

Operates an interactive retail platform offering luxury handbags, jewelry, accessories, ready-to-wear clothing, footwear, watches, and related luxury goods.

What the complaint says

The problems the plaintiff describes with the website.

  • Website inaccessible to blind and visually impaired individuals
  • Failure to provide accessible alternative text for product images
  • Improper information structure preventing navigation
  • Keyboard inaccessibility of interactive elements
  • Unpredictable focus order on the website
  • Lack of accessible instructions for controls
  • Improper use of ARIA attributes
  • Dynamic content changes not announced to screen readers

Legal claims

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

  • Violation of Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act
  • Violation of the New York State Human Rights Law
  • Violation of the New York State Civil Rights Law
  • Violations of the New York City Human Rights Law
  • Declaratory Relief

What the plaintiff asks for

What the plaintiff wants the court to order.

  • Injunctive relief requiring remediation of accessibility barriers
  • Compensatory damages
  • Civil penalties and fines
  • Declaratory relief regarding discrimination

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://us.louisvuitton.com using screen reader software and were denied full and equal access to the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, or accommodations offered thereon.