Leah Walker v. Herbalife International of America, Inc.

Summary

According to the complaint, Leah Walker, a visually-impaired individual, is suing Herbalife International of America, Inc. for failing to make their website, Herbalife.com, accessible to blind users. The complaint alleges that the website contains significant access barriers that prevent blind individuals from independently navigating and completing purchases. Walker claims that these barriers violate the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and seeks a permanent injunction to require the defendant to make the website accessible, along with compensatory damages for the discrimination faced. The complaint highlights specific issues such as the lack of alt-text for images and the requirement of mouse usage for transactions, which hinder blind users from accessing the website's services.

About the defendant

Herbalife International of America provides a wide array of nutritional products and services, including dietary supplements, protein drinks, multivitamins, and personal care products, available for purchase online.

What the complaint says

The problems the plaintiff describes with the website.

• Defendant's website is inaccessible to blind and visually-impaired persons.
• Plaintiff was denied the ability to independently navigate and make purchases on Herbalife.com due to accessibility barriers.
• Defendant failed to implement necessary modifications to make the website 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
• Declaratory Relief
• Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress

What the plaintiff asks for

What the plaintiff wants the court to order.

• A preliminary and permanent injunction to prohibit Defendant from violating the Americans with Disabilities Act.
• A declaration that Defendant’s website discriminates against the blind.
• Compensatory damages in an amount to be determined at trial.

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 Herbalife.com and as a result have been denied access to the enjoyment of goods and services offered by Herbalife.com, during the relevant statutory period.