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Christine Thomas v. CV Imports, LLC d/b/a CV Linens

Filed

Case details

Standards cited
WCAG 2.1

Summary

According to the complaint, Christine Thomas, a legally blind consumer, is suing CV Imports, LLC d/b/a CV Linens for violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act and related New York laws. She alleges that the website www.cvlinens.com is inaccessible to blind users due to multiple barriers, including missing alternative text and form labels, which prevent meaningful engagement with its products and services. Thomas seeks a permanent injunction requiring the defendant to make the website accessible and compensatory damages for the discrimination she faced. The complaint also includes class action allegations on behalf of all legally blind individuals who have faced similar barriers on the website.

About the defendant

CV Linens markets and sells event linens, napkins, tablecloths, and related décor products directly to the public through its website, while also promoting customer care, returns, shipping, loyalty, and live-chat services through the same digital platform.

What the complaint says

The problems the plaintiff describes with the website.

  • Plaintiff encountered multiple access barriers on the website, including missing alternative text, missing form labels, empty links, broken ARIA references, and low-contrast elements.
  • Plaintiff was unable to independently complete her objectives due to these barriers, which prevented her screen reader from conveying product information and navigation controls.

Legal claims

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

  • Violations of the ADA, 42 U.S.C. § 12182 et seq.
  • Violation of the New York State Human Rights Law
  • Violation of New York State Civil Rights Law
  • Violations of the New York City Human Rights Law

What the plaintiff asks for

What the plaintiff wants the court to order.

  • A preliminary and permanent injunction prohibiting Defendant from violating Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. § 12182 et seq.
  • A preliminary and permanent injunction requiring Defendant to take all steps necessary to make the website fully compliant with the requirements of the ADA and its implementing regulations.
  • Compensatory damages in an amount to be determined at trial, including all applicable statutory and punitive damages and fines, to Plaintiff and the proposed Class and Subclasses for violations of the NYCHRL, NYSHRL, and NYCRL.

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 www.cvlinens.com and were denied equal access to its services, offerings, and support due to persistent digital accessibility barriers during the relevant statutory period