Richard Johnson v. Intel Corporation

Summary

According to the complaint, Richard Johnson, a legally blind individual, is suing Intel Corporation for failing to make its website, www.intel.com, accessible to blind users. Johnson alleges that he encountered numerous barriers while attempting to access product information and complete transactions, including missing alternative text and unlabeled form fields. He claims these issues violate the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and New York state laws. Johnson seeks a permanent injunction requiring Intel to adopt accessible web design practices and compensatory damages for the discrimination he faced.

About the defendant

Intel operates a consumer-facing business through its interactive e-commerce and informational website, offering a wide range of products and services, including desktop processors, graphics cards, and related consumer technologies, with product listings, specifications, drivers, and purchasing features available online.

What the complaint says

The problems the plaintiff describes with the website.

• Plaintiff encountered persistent accessibility barriers on the website, including missing alternative text, empty buttons, broken ARIA references, unlabeled form controls, and contrast errors.
• Defendant's website is not equally accessible to blind and visually impaired consumers, violating the ADA.
• Plaintiff was deterred from returning to the website due to the accessibility barriers encountered.

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.

• A preliminary and permanent injunction to prohibit Defendant from violating the ADA and New York laws.
• A declaration that Defendant’s website discriminates against the blind and fails to provide access as required by law.
• Compensatory damages for violations of civil rights under New York laws.

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 Defendant’s Website, www.intel.com and as a result have been denied access to the equal enjoyment of goods and services, during the relevant statutory period.