Mary Ann Deinnocentes v. Back to the Roots, Inc.

Summary

According to the complaint, Mary Ann Deinnocentes, a visually impaired individual, is suing Back to the Roots, Inc. for failing to make its website, https://backtotheroots.com/, accessible to blind users. Deinnocentes alleges that the website contains significant barriers that prevent her and others from independently navigating and completing transactions. The complaint cites violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and seeks a permanent injunction to require the defendant to make necessary changes to the website, as well as compensatory damages for affected individuals. Deinnocentes claims that the website's design relies heavily on visual elements, making it unusable for those who depend on screen-reading software.

About the defendant

Provides consumers access to an array of organic gardening products, including grow kits, planters, seeds, soils, and plant supplies such as fertilizers, soil amendments, and tools.

What the complaint says

The problems the plaintiff describes with the website.

• Website is inaccessible to visually impaired individuals
• Denial of full and equal access to goods and services offered through the Website
• Failure to comply with ADA standards for accessibility

Legal claims

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

• Violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
• Declaratory Relief

What the plaintiff asks for

What the plaintiff wants the court to order.

• Permanent injunction to require Defendant to make the Website accessible
• Compensatory damages for Class Members
• Certification of the case as a class action

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