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Edwin Williams v. Flowers Foods, Inc., Flowers Bakeries, LLC., Dave’s Killer Bread, Inc., Simple Mills, Inc.

Filed

Case details

Standards cited
WCAG 2.1

Summary

According to the complaint, Edwin Williams, a legally blind individual, is suing Flowers Foods, Inc. and its subsidiaries for violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act. He alleges that their websites, www.daveskillerbread.com and www.simplemills.com, are inaccessible due to numerous barriers, including missing alternative text and broken links, which prevent him from obtaining product information and completing purchases. Williams claims these issues violate the ADA and seeks a permanent injunction to require the defendants to make their websites accessible, along with compensatory damages for the discrimination he faced.

About the defendant

Produces and sells packaged bakery foods and snacks, including bread and specialty food items, through their websites.

What the complaint says

The problems the plaintiff describes with the website.

  • Defendants' websites are inaccessible to blind individuals due to missing alternative text, inaccessible images, unlabeled buttons, and broken links.
  • Plaintiff Edwin Williams, a legally blind individual, was unable to access product information and complete purchases on the websites.
  • Defendants failed to comply with WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards for digital accessibility.

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.
  • Violations of the New York City Human Rights Law (NYCHRL)
  • New York State Human Rights Law (NYSHRL)
  • Violation of New York State Civil Rights (NYCRL)
  • Declaratory Relief

What the plaintiff asks for

What the plaintiff wants the court to order.

  • Permanent injunction requiring Defendants to make their websites accessible to blind individuals.
  • Compensatory damages for violations of civil rights under applicable laws.
  • Certification of the class and subclasses.

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 Defendants’ Websites and have been denied equal access to the goods, services, information, and privileges offered during the relevant statutory period.