Michael Wood v. Oriental Rug Gallery, L.P.

Summary

According to the complaint, Michael Wood, a visually impaired individual, is suing Oriental Rug Gallery, L.P. for failing to make its website, rugstudio.com, accessible to blind users. Wood alleges that the website contains significant barriers that prevent him and others from independently navigating and completing purchases. The complaint cites violations of 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 affected individuals. Wood encountered multiple accessibility issues, including inadequate alt-text and navigation problems, which hindered his ability to shop online.

About the defendant

Provides consumers access to an array of goods and services, including the ability to purchase a variety of rugs in multiple styles, colors, sizes, and shapes.

What the complaint says

The problems the plaintiff describes with the website.

• Website is inaccessible to visually impaired individuals
• Failure to provide adequate alt-text for images
• Navigation menus are not accessible via keyboard
• Website requires mouse usage for transactions

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 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.