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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA

CASE NO. 

GEORGE ROBINSON,

Plaintiff,

v.

THE REALREAL, INC.,

Defendant.

___________________________________/

CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT

Comes now GEORGE ROBINSON (“Plaintiff”), on behalf of himself and all others 

similarly situated, hereby sues THE REALREAL, INC. and alleges as follows:

INTRODUCTION

1. Plaintiff, GEORGE ROBINSON, brings this action individually and on behalf of 

all others similarly situated against Defendant, THE REALREAL, INC., (“Defendant”), alleging 

violations of Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. § 12101 et seq., 

(hereinafter, “ADA”). 

2. Plaintiff is a blind individual. He brings this civil rights class action against 

Defendant for offering and maintaining an internet website that is not fully accessible and 

independently usable by visually impaired individuals.

3. Plaintiff ROBINSON has visited Defendant’s website (www.therealreal.com) (the 

“Website”). 

4. Defendant is a luxury goods re-seller that offers goods and services that are 

inaccessible to the public via its website and has a brick and mortar consignment office location 

in Miami-Dade County. Defendant’s website is offered as a tool that is heavily integrated with 

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Defendant’s integrated brick and mortar location, to among other things, make an appointment to 

visit the consignment office for appraisal.

5. As a result, the website must interact and be heavily integrated with Defendant’s 

services, brick and mortar location, and in doing so must comply with the ADA, which means it

must not discriminate against individuals with disabilities and may not deny full and equal 

enjoyment of services afforded to the general public.

6. Blind and visually impaired consumers use screen reading software or other 

assistive technologies in order to access website content. Defendant’s website, however, contains

digital barriers, limiting the ability of blind and visually impaired consumers to access their 

content. 

7. Defendant’s website does not properly interact with screen reader software in a 

manner that will allow the blind and visually impaired to enjoy the website, nor does the site 

provide other means to accommodate the blind and visually impaired. As a result, the Plaintiff

encountered digital barriers that interfered with his full enjoyment of Defendant’s integrated brick 

and mortar location. Plaintiff ROBINSON has visited Defendant’s website in the past in 

conjunction with Plaintiff’s visit to Defendant’s integrated brick and mortar location. Mr. 

Robinson lives approximately eleven (11) miles from the Defendant’s brick and mortar location. 

However, unless Defendant is required to eliminate the access barriers at issue, and required to 

change its policies so that access barriers do not reoccur on Defendant’s website, Plaintiff will 

continue to be denied full and equal access to the website and related brick and mortar location as 

described, and will be deterred from fully using Defendant’s website in conjunction with its 

physical location.

8. The ADA expressly contemplates the type of injunctive relief that Plaintiff seeks 

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in this action. The ADA provides, in part:

[i]n the case of violations of . . . this title, injunctive relief 

shall include an order to alter facilities to make such facilities readily 

accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities . . . Where 

appropriate, injunctive relief shall also include requiring the ... 

modification of a policy ...

42 U.S.C. § 12188(a)(2).

9. Therefore, on behalf of a class of similarly situated individuals, Plaintiff seeks a 

declaration that Defendant’s website violates federal law as described and an injunction requiring 

Defendant to modify its website, to include third party vendors, so that it is fully accessible to, and 

independently usable by blind or visually impaired individuals. Plaintiff further requests that the 

Court retain jurisdiction of this matter for a period to be determined to ensure that Defendant comes

into compliance with the requirements of the ADA and to ensure that Defendant has adopted and 

is following an institutional policy that will, in fact, cause Defendant’s website to remain in 

compliance with the law.

JURISDICTION AND VENUE

10. This Court has federal question jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1331 and 42 

U.S.C. § 12188.

11. Plaintiff’s claims arose in this judicial district and Defendant does substantial

business in this judicial district. 

12. Venue in this judicial district is proper under 28 U.S.C. § 1391(b)(2) and 42 

U.S.C. § 12117(a) in that this is the judicial district in which a substantial part of the acts and 

omissions giving rise to the claims occurred.

PARTIES

13. Plaintiff, GEORGE ROBINSON, is and, at all times relevant hereto, was a 

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resident of the State of Florida. Plaintiff, GEORGE ROBINSON, is and, at all times relevant 

hereto, has been legally blind and is therefore a member of a protected class under the ADA.

14. Defendant, THE REALREAL, INC., is a Foreign Profit Corporation, with its 

principal place in San Francisco, California. Defendant, THE REALREAL, INC., either directly 

or through its subsidiaries and/or partners and affiliates, owns, operates and/or maintains a brick 

and mortar consignment office location in Miami-Dade County. Defendant, THE REALREAL, 

INC., also owns, operates, and maintains its integrated website, which offers continuous services 

to the public, twenty-four (24) hours a day and seven days a week. 

15. The consignment office location owned by Defendant, THE REALREAL, INC., 

and the accompanying integrated website offers and services including making an appointment to 

visit the consignment office for appraisal, viewing items available for sale, and registering as a 

member, to South Florida, to the public. The consignment office location and website work 

collectively and are public accommodations pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 12181(7)(F).

FACTS

16. Defendant either owns, operates and/or controls its website,

www.therealreal.com, which offers services related to and heavily integrated with its brick and 

mortar consignment office location and which offers such services such as making an appointment 

to visit the consignment office for appraisal, viewing items available for sale, and registering as a 

member, within South Florida, to the public.

17. Blind and visually impaired individuals may access websites by using keyboards 

in conjunction with screen reader software that converts text to audio. Screen reader software 

provides the primary method by which a visually impaired person may independently use the 

Internet. Unless the websites are designed to be accessed with screen reader software, visually 

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impaired individuals are unable to fully access websites and the information, products, and service 

available through the sites.

18. The international website standards organization, W3C, has published WCAG 

2.0 AA (Version 2.0 of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines). WCAG 2.0 AA provides 

widely accepted guidelines for making websites accessible to individuals with disabilities and 

compatible with screen reader software. These guidelines have been endorsed by the United States 

Department of Justice and numerous federal courts.

19. Plaintiff is a prospective customer who is interested in the good and services offered

by Defendant at its brick and mortar consignment office location in Miami, Florida. 

20. Plaintiff uses screen reader software in order to access a website's content. 

However, despite several attempts, Defendant’s website did not integrate with Plaintiff's software, 

nor was there any function within the website to permit access for visually impaired individuals 

through other means. Plaintiff was denied the full use and enjoyment of the facilities and services 

available on Defendant’s website as a result of access barriers on the website in conjunction with 

Plaintiff’s use and patronage of Defendant’s integrated brick and mortar consignment office 

location in Miami-Dade County.

21. Defendant’s website does not meet the WCAG 2.0 AA level of accessibility.

22. By failing to adequately design and program its website to accurately and 

sufficiently integrate with screen reader software, Defendant has discriminated against Plaintiff 

and others with visual impairments on the basis of a disability by denying them full and equal 

enjoyment of the website, in violation of 42 U.S.C. § 12182(a) and C.F.R. § 36.201.

23. As a result of Defendant’s discrimination, Plaintiff was unable to use Defendant’s 

website and suffered an injury in fact including loss of dignity, mental anguish and other tangible 

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injuries. Moreover, the digital barriers on Defendant’s website, Plaintiff is denied to participate in 

or benefit from the goods, services and accommodations afforded to the public. 

24. The barriers at the website have caused a denial of Plaintiff’s full and equal 

access multiple times in the past, and now deter Plaintiff from attempting to use Defendant’s 

website itself, and in conjunction with visiting its brick and mortar campus location.

25. If Defendant’s website was accessible, Plaintiff could research the menu, place

orders online for in store pick-up, purchase gift cards, make balance inquiries regarding gift cards, 

add monies to gift cards, and view catering information.

26. Although Defendant may have centralized policies regarding the maintenance 

and operation of its website, Defendant has never had a plan or policy that is reasonably calculated 

to make its website fully accessible to, and independently usable by people with visual 

impairments.

27. Without injunctive relief, Plaintiff and other visually impaired individuals will 

continue to be unable to independently use Defendant’s website in violation of their rights under 

the ADA.

CLASS ALLEGATIONS

28. Plaintiff brings this class action on behalf of himself and all others similarly 

situated pursuant to Rules 23(a) and 23(b)(2) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, on behalf of 

all legally blind individuals who have attempted, or will attempt, to access Defendant’s website 

using screen reader software.

29. Numerous Class: The class described above is so numerous that joinder of all 

individual members in one action would be impracticable. The disposition of the individual claims 

of the respective class members through this class action will benefit both the parties and this 

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Court.

30. Typicality: Plaintiff’s claims are typical of the claims of the members of the class. 

The claims of the Plaintiff and members of the class are based on the same legal theories and arise 

from the same unlawful conduct.

31. Common Questions of Fact and Law: There is a well-defined community of 

interest and common questions of fact and law affecting members of the class in that they all have 

been and/or are being denied their civil rights to full and equal access to, and use and enjoyment 

of, Defendant’s facilities and/or services due to Defendant’s failure to make its website fully 

accessible and independently usable as above described.

32. Adequacy of Representation: Plaintiff is an adequate representative of the class 

because his interests do not conflict with the interests of the members of the class. Plaintiff will 

fairly, adequately, and vigorously represent and protect the interests of the members of the class 

and has no interests antagonistic to the members of the class. Plaintiff has retained counsel who 

are competent and experienced in the prosecution of class action litigation, generally, and who 

possess specific expertise in the context of class litigation under the ADA.

33. Class certification is appropriate pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(b)(2) because 

Defendant has acted or refused to act on grounds generally applicable to the Class, making 

appropriate both declaratory and injunctive relief with respect to Plaintiff and the Class as a whole.

SUBSTANTIVE VIOLATIONS

Title III of the ADA, 42 U.S.C. § 12181 et seq.

34. The allegations contained in the previous paragraphs are incorporated by 

reference.

35. Section 302(a) of Title III of the ADA, 42 U.S.C. § 12101 et seq., provides: “No 

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individual shall be discriminated against on the basis of a disability in the full and equal enjoyment 

the goods, facilities, privileges, advantages or accommodations of any place of public 

accommodation by any person who owns, leases (or leases to), or operates a place of public 

accommodation.” 42 U.S.C. § 12182(a).

36. Defendant’s integrated brick and mortar consignment office location and 

accompanying Website are public accommodations within the definition of Title III of the ADA, 

42 U.S.C. § 12181(7)(F). 

37. Under Section 302(b)(2) of Title III of the ADA, it is unlawful discrimination to 

deny individuals with disabilities the opportunity to participate in or benefit from the goods, 

services, facilities, privileges, advantages or accommodations of an entity. 42 U.S.C. § 

12182(b)(1)(A)(1).

38. Under Section 302(b)(2) of Title III of the ADA, it is unlawful discrimination to 

deny individuals with disabilities the opportunity to participate in or benefit from the goods, 

services, facilities, privileges, advantages or accommodations, which is equal to the opportunities 

afforded to other individuals. 42 U.S.C. § 12182(b)(1)(A)(ii').

39. Under Section 302(b)(2) of Title III of the ADA, unlawful discrimination also 

includes, among other things:

a failure to make reasonable modifications in policies, practices or 

procedures, when such modifications are necessary to afford such 

goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages or 

accommodations to individuals with disabilities, unless the entity 

can demonstrate that making such modifications would 

fundamentally alter the nature of such goods, services, facilities, 

privileges, advantages or accommodations; and a failure to take such 

steps as may be necessary to ensure that no individual with a 

disability is excluded, denied services, segregated or otherwise 

treated differently than other individuals because of the absence of 

auxiliary aids and services, unless the entity can demonstrate that 

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taking such steps would fundamentally alter the nature of good, 

service, facility, privilege, advantage or accommodation being 

offered or would result in an undue burden

42 U.S.C. § 12182(b)(2)(A)(ii–iii); see also 28 C.F.R. § 36.303(a).

40. Title III requires that "[a] public accommodation shall furnish appropriate auxiliary 

aids and services where necessary to ensure effective communication with individuals with 

disabilities." 28 C.F.R. § 36.303(c)(1). The regulation sets forth numerous examples of "auxiliary 

aids and services," including "...accessible electronic and information technology; or other 

effective methods of making visually delivered materials available to individuals who are blind or 

have low vision." 28 C.F.R. § 36.303(b).

41. The acts alleged herein constitute violations of Title III of the ADA, and the 

regulations promulgated thereunder. Plaintiff, who is blind and has a disability that substantially 

limits the major life activity of seeing, within the meaning of 42 U.S.C. §§ 12102(1)(A) and (2)(A), 

has been denied full and equal access to Defendant’s website. Plaintiff has not been afforded the 

services, privileges and advantages that are provided to other patrons who are not disabled, and/or 

have been provided services, privileges and advantages that are inferior to those provided to nondisabled persons. These violations are ongoing as Defendant has failed to make any prompt and 

equitable changes to its website and policies in order to remedy its discriminatory conduct.

42. Pursuant to the ADA and the remedies, procedures and rights set forth and 

incorporated therein, Plaintiff, on behalf of himself and on behalf of all others similarly situated, 

requests relief as set forth below.

PRAYER FOR RELIEF 

WHEREFORE, Plaintiff, on behalf of himself and the members of the class, prays for:

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a. A Declaratory Judgment that at the commencement of this action Defendant is in violation 

of the specific requirements of Title III of the ADA, described above, and the relevant 

implementing regulations of the ADA, in that Defendant took no action that was reasonably 

calculated to ensure that its website was fully accessible to, and independently usable by, blind 

individuals;

b. A permanent injunction pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 12188(a)(2), 29 U.S.C.A. § 794a, 28 CFR 

§ 36.504 (a), and 29 U.S.C.A. § 794a which directs Defendant to take all steps necessary to bring 

its website into full compliance with the requirements set forth in the ADA, and both statutes' 

implementing regulations, so that its website is fully accessible to, and independently usable by, 

blind individuals, and which further directs that the Court shall retain jurisdiction for a period to 

be determined to ensure that Defendant has adopted and is following an institutional policy that 

will in fact cause Defendant to remain fully in compliance with the law;

c. An Order certifying the class proposed by Plaintiff, and naming Plaintiff as class 

representatives and appointing his counsel as class counsel;

d. Payment of attorneys’ fees and costs incurred in this lawsuit;

e. Payment of reasonable attorneys' fees, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 12205, 29 U.S.C.A. § 794a, 

and 28 CFR § 36.505; and,

f. Whatever other relief the Court deems just, equitable and appropriate.

Dated: May 15th, 2020.

Respectfully submitted,

 GARCIA-MENOCAL & PEREZ, P.L.

 Attorneys for Plaintiff

 4937 S.W. 74th Court

 Miami, FL 33155

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 Telephone: (305) 553-3464

 Facsimile: (305) 553-3031

 Primary E-Mail: ajperez@lawgmp.com

Secondary E-Mail: aquezada@lawgmp.com

bvirues@lawgmp.com

By: ___/s/_Anthony J. Perez________

 ANTHONY J. PEREZ

 Florida Bar No.: 535451

BEVERLY VIRUES

Flroida Bar No.: 123713

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