Cotto v. California Donuts

Summary

On February 28, 2019, Ceasar Cotto filed a Complaint in California State court against California Donuts #21, Inc.. Plaintiff Ceasar Cotto alleges that www.cadonuts.com is not accessible per the WCAG 2.0, Section 508 accessibility standard(s).

About the defendant

California Donuts is a retail donut restaurant chain with multiple locations.

What the complaint says

The problems the plaintiff describes with the website.

• The home page has graphics, links, and buttons that are not labeled or are incorrectly labeled, or lack alternative text ("Alt-text"). Alt-text is invisible code embedded beneath a graphical image on a website. Web accessibility requires that Alt-text be coded with each picture so that screen-reading software can speak the Alt-text where a sighted user sees pictures. Alt-text does not change the visual presentation. but instead a text box shows when the cursor moves over the picture. The lack ofAlt-text on these graphics prevents screen readers from accurately vocalizing a description of the graphics.
• Plaintiff encountered multiple unlabeled or mislabeled buttons and links. Without descriptive alternate text, Plaintiffs, and other screen reader users, have no clue about the purpose or function of the button or link;
• Plaintiff encountered multiple pages containing unlabeled graphics, links, and buttons while navigating the Website;
• Plaintiff encountered multiple pages containing insufficient navigational headings requiring Plaintiff to expend substantial additional time to access information;
• Plaintiff was unable to browse the menu because menu links and descriptions were inaccessible to screen reading technology; and
• Plaintiff was unable to make a purchase because of an inaccessible checkout system.

Legal claims

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

• UCRA, CA Civil Code 51 § et seq.

What the plaintiff asks for

What the plaintiff wants the court to order.

• A Declaratory Judgment that at the commencement of this action Defendant owns, maintains, and/or operates its Website in a manner which discriminates against the blind, fails to provide access to blind or visually-impaired individuals, and that Defendant took no action that was reasonably calculated to ensure that its Website is fully accessible to, and independently usable by blind and visually impaired individuals in violation of California’s Unruh Act, California Civil Code § 51, et seq;
• A preliminary and permanent injunction enjoining Defendant from further violations of the UCRA, Civil Code § 51 et seq. with respect to its website "www.cadonuts.com."
• A preliminary and permanent injunction requiring Defendant to take the steps necessary to make www.cadonuts.com readily accessible to and usable by blind and visually impaired individuals but Plaintiff hereby expressly limits the injunctive relief to require that Defendant expend no more than $ 50,000 thereon:
• An award of statutory minimum statutory damages of not less than $ 4,000 per violation pursuant to § 52(a) of the California Civil Code;
• An additional award of $ 4,000.00 as deterrence damages for each violation pursuant to Johnson v. Guedoir, 218 F. Supp. 3d 1096; 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 150740 (USDC Cal, E.D. 2016);
• For attorneys' fees and expenses pursuant to all applicable laws including, without limitation, CivilCode § 52(a);
• For pre-judgment interest to the extent permitted by law;
• For costs of suit; and,
• For such other and further relief as this Court deems just and proper.