Phillip Sullivan, JR vs. The New School

Summary

On February 12, 2019, PHILLIP SULLIVAN, JR. filed a Complaint in New York State court against THE NEW SCHOOL . Plaintiff PHILLIP SULLIVAN, JR. alleges that www.newschool.edu is not accessible per the WCAG 2.1 accessibility standard(s).

About the defendant

School in New York City

What the complaint says

The problems the plaintiff describes with the website.

• This case arises out of Defendant’s policy and practice of denying the deaf and hard of hearing full and equal access to the Website, including the goods and services offered by Defendant through the Website. Due to Defendant’s failure and refusal to remove access barriers to the Website, deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals have been and are being denied equal access to the Website, as well as to the numerous goods, services and benefits offered to the public through the Website.
• Defendant denies the deaf and hard of hearing access to goods, services, and information made available through the Website by preventing them from freely enjoying, interpreting, and understanding the content on the Website.

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
• Violation of New York State Human Rights Law, N.Y. Exec. Law, Article 15 (Executive Law § 292 et seq.)
• Violation of New York State Civil Rights Law, NY CLS Civ R, Article 4 (CLS Civ R § 40 et seq.)
• Violation of New York City Human Rights Law, N.Y.C. Administrative Code § 8-102, et seq.
• Declaratory Relief

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, 42 U.S.C. § 12182, et seq., N.Y. Exec. Law § 296, et seq., N.Y.C. Administrative Code § 8-107, et seq., and the laws of New York;
• A preliminary and permanent injunction requiring Defendant to take all the steps necessary to make the Website fully compliant with the requirements set forth in the ADA, and its implementing regulations, so that the Website is readily accessible to and usable by deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals;
• A declaration that Defendant owns, maintains, and/or operates the Website in a manner which discriminates against the deaf and hard of hearing, and which fails to provide access for persons with disabilities as required by Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. § 12182, et seq., N.Y. Exec. Law § 296, et seq., N.Y.C. Administrative Code § 8-107, et seq., and the laws of New York;
• Compensatory damages in an amount to be determined by proof, including all applicable statutory damages and fines, to Plaintiff for violations of their civil rights under New York State Human Rights Law and City Law;
• Plaintiff’s reasonable attorneys’ fees, statutory damages, expenses, and costs of suit as provided by state and federal law;
• For pre- and post-judgment interest to the extent permitted by law;