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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA

MIAMI DIVISION

Case Number:__________________-CIV-_____________________

AISHIA PETERSEN,

 Plaintiff,

v.

GRENDENE GLOBAL BRANDS USA LLC

Dba MELISSA

 Defendant.

________________________________/

COMPLAINT FOR PERMANENT INJUCTIVE RELIEF 

 COMES NOW, Plaintiff Aishia Petersen (“Plaintiff “or “Petersen”), by and 

through undersigned counsel, files this Complaint for Permanent Injunctive Relief pursuant to Title 

III of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended, 42 U.S.C. §§s 12181-12189 

(“ADA”), 28 U.S.C. §2201 and 2202 as well as 28 CFR Part 36 Regulations. Plaintiff state as 

follows:

INTRODUCTION AND NATURE OF THE ACTION

1. This Court has jurisdiction over this case based on federal question Jurisdiction, 

as provided in 28 U.S.C. §1331 and the provisions of the ADA. Plaintiff seeks declaratory and 

injunctive relief pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§2201 and 2202.

2. Plaintiff is a visually-impaired and legally blind person (disabled) who requires 

assistance through screen-reading software to read website content using her computer. Plaintiff 

uses the term “blind” or “visually impaired” as legally blind. Disable as defined by ADA and 

Amendment acts of 2008, 42 USC §12101 (ADAAA).

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3. Defendant’s website https://www.shopmelissa.com (the “Website”) is not fully 

or equally accessible to blind or visually impaired consumers in violation of the “ADA.” As a 

result, Plaintiff seeks a permanent injunction to cause a change in GRENDENE GLOBAL 

BRANDS USA LLC (“Defendant” or “Melissa”) policies, practices and procedures so that 

Defendant’s website will become, and remain, accessible to blind. Plaintiff seeks injunctive relief, 

attorneys’ fees and costs, including, but not limited to, court costs and expert fees, pursuant to 

Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended, 42 U.S.C. §§s 12181-12189 

(“ADA”) and 42 U.S.C. 2000a-3(a). See also 28 U.S.C. 2201 and 2202 as well as ADA 28 CFR 

Part 36 Regulations. 

4. Plaintiff is unaware of the true names, identities, and capacities of all responsible 

parties (defendants) being sued. Plaintiff will seek leave to amend this complaint to allege the

true names and capacities if and when ascertained. Plaintiff is informed and believes, and 

thereupon alleges, that Defendant is legally responsible in some manner for the events and 

happenings alleged herein and that Defendant sued here proximately caused injuries and damages 

to Plaintiff as set forth below.

5. Plaintiff is sui juris, and she is disabled as defined by the ADA and ADA 

Amendments Act of 2008, 42 U.S.C. §12101 (“ADAAA”). Defendant’s failure to design, build, 

maintain, and operate its https://www.shopmelissa.com to be fully and equally accessible to and 

independently operational by Plaintiff, constitutes in Defendant’s denial of full and equal access 

to physical stores and Website, resulting in a violation of Plaintiff’s rights under the Americans 

with Disabilities Act (“ADA”). 

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6. Defendant’s website is a point of sale for the Defendant physical store. The 

Defendant’s e-commerce platform (https://www.shopmelissa.com the “Website”) allows 

purchase of the same merchandise online or at the brick-mortar store.

7. The Defendant owns and operates the Website for desktop and mobile

application for e-commerce and several shoe and sandal stores that are located in Florida. 

8. Because Defendant is a store open to the public, each of Defendant’s physical 

stores is a place of public accommodation subject to the requirements of Title III of the ADA, 42 

U.S.C. §12182, §12181(7)(E), and its implementing regulations, 28 C.F.R. Part 36.

9. Plaintiff Aishia Petersen, a blind woman, residing in Orlando, Florida brings 

this action under the Americans with Disabilities Act in Federal Court. 

10. Blind and visually impaired citizens must use screen reading software1or other 

assistive technologies in order to access website content. 

11. Plaintiff cannot use her computer and mobile device browser without the 

assistance of appropriate and available screen reader software to understand websites.

12. Defendant’s Website is built in digital code that impedes screen-reader

software to work. A few lines of code could make the Defendant’s website compatible with the 

popular blind’s screen-readers software and grant access to Defendant’s store to all blind 

individuals, including Plaintiff.

13.Screen reader software translates the visual internet into an auditory equivalent. 

which vocalizes visual information found on the computer screen. With this software, Plaintiff 

has successfully used more than 400 websites.

1

“screen reader” is a software application that enables people with severe visual impairments to use a computer. 

Screen readers work closely with the computer's Operating System (OS) to verbalize information about icons, menus, 

dialogue boxes, files and folders.

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14. The software reads the content of a webpage to the user. The screen reading 

software uses auditory cues to allow a visually impaired user to effectively navigate the websites.

15. Plaintiff visited the Website when at home, or on the go or in transit when 

visiting other cities. The purpose of the Website is to turn visitors into prospects. One of the 

functions of the Defendant’s Website is to provide the public information on the locations of 

Defendant’s stores through a “store locator” feature. Defendant also sells to the public its 

merchandise through the Website, which acts as a point of sale for Defendant’s merchandise 

available in, from, and through Defendant’s physical stores and https://www.shopmelissa.com.

16. This case arises out of the fact that Defendant GRENDENE Global Brands 

USA has operated its business in a manner and way that effectively excluding Plaintiff who are 

visually impaired from access to Defendant physical stores and online store (the Website). 

Because the Website, an e-commerce online platform, carries the same products in the physical 

store and connects individuals to make a purchase on the Website 24/7, the same way they would 

in the physical store (during limited hours 10am to 8pm). The Website has a nexus to and is an 

extension of and gateway to the Defendant’s physical stores. 

17. Because the public can view and purchase Defendant’s goods through the 

Website that are also offered for sale in Defendant’s physical stores, thus having the Website act 

as a point of sale for Defendant’s products that are also sold in the physical stores, arrange instore and curbside pickups of merchandise purchased online benefits for use online and in the 

physical stores, the Website is an extension of and gateway to the physical stores, which are places 

of public accommodation pursuant to the ADA, 42 U.S.C. §12181(7)(E).

18. Even if the Website is not itself a place of public accommodation the 

Defendant’s physical stores are a place of public accommodation under 42 U.S.C. §12181(7)(E),

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and must comply with all requirements of the ADA. The Website is an extension and a necessary 

service, privilege, and advantage of the Defendant’s physical stores. Defendant must not 

discriminate against individuals with visual disabilities and must not deny those individuals the 

same full and equal access to and enjoyment of the goods, services, privileges, and advantages 

afforded the non-visually disabled public both online and in the physical stores. 

19. As a result of Plaintiff being legally blind, before she embarks on any venture 

from her home, Plaintiff studies the location where Plaintiff is seeking to patronize through using 

the internet. Plaintiff has made innumerous attempts to access Defendant’s physical store and 

Website in the past, but Plaintiff could not locate the nearest store thru the website neither preshop the Defendant’s merchandise because the Website is not readable by the screen-reader.

20. Plaintiff intends to continue to access the Defendant’s physical store and make 

a purchase thru the Website and pick up at curbside or just pre-shop. Plaintiff was informed that 

there is one of the Defendant’s physical store near Plaintiff’s home, located at 19501 Biscayne 

Blvd., Aventura, Miami, FL 33160. 

21. Plaintiff is and has been a customer who is interested in patronizing and intends 

to patronize in the near future Defendant’s physical stores once the Website’s access barriers are 

removed or remedied. The barriers Plaintiff encountered on Defendant’s website have impeded 

Plaintiff’s full and equal enjoyment of goods and services offered at Defendant’s brick-and mortar 

stores.

22. In the alternative, Plaintiff intends to monitor the Website in the near future, 

as a tester, to ascertain whether the Website has been updated and remedied to work properly with 

screen-readers.

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23. Before Plaintiff visited Defendant’s physical store, Plaintiff needs to visit the 

store online, because the opportunity to shop and pre-shop Defendant’s products from Plaintiff’s 

home are important accommodations for Plaintiff; because as a visually disabled individual

Plaintiff plans her outings in advance.

24. Plaintiff is impeded to access and communicate with Defendant effectively, 

unable to take advantage and use the Website to pre-shop and purchase Defendant’s merchandise, 

to arrange in-store and curbside pickups of merchandise purchased online, create an account and 

sign up for an electronic emailer to receive exclusive online offers, benefits, invitations, and 

discounts for use both online and in the physical stores.

25. The privilege to navigate the Website from Plaintiff’s home is important and 

necessary accommodations for Plaintiff because traveling outside of her home as a visually 

disabled individual is an often challenging and fearsome experience. Defendant’s failure to 

provide auxiliary aids and services for effective communications is an act of discrimination 

against Plaintiff. Title III ADA 28 C.F.R. § 36.303.

26. 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 access to Melissa’s physical stores and online e-commerce 

platform (the Website). 

JURISDICTION AND VENUE

27. This Court has jurisdiction over this case based on federal question jurisdiction, 28 

U.S.C. §1331, and the provisions of the ADA. Plaintiff seeks declaratory and injunctive relief pursuant 

to 28 U.S.C. §§2201 and 2202.

 28. Defendant has shops in the State of Florida. Defendant conducts and continues to 

conduct a substantial and significant amount of business in this District.

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 29. Venue is proper pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §1391, in the Southern District of Florida

where defendant has retail stores and a substantial part of the events giving rise to the claims 

occurred. Personal jurisdiction exists when the Defendant purposefully availed itself of the 

conducting activities within the forum State.

 30. Plaintiff’s claims asserted herein arose in this judicial district. Plaintiff was told 

that there is a Melissa’s shop near her home.

31. Plaintiff is a resident of Orlando, FL 32817. is sui juris, and is disabled as 

defined by the ADA and ADA Amendments Act of 2008, 42 U.S.C. §12101 (“ADAAA”). 

 32. This is an action injunctive relief pursuant to Title III of the Americans with 

Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. §§12181-12189 (“ADA”), 28 C.F.R. § 36.201 and to prevent 

discrimination which includes equal access and effective communications with Defendant’s 

business. This Court has jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331 and 1343. 

 33. Defendant is subject to personal jurisdiction in this District. Defendant has been 

and is committing the acts or omissions alleged herein in the Southern District of Florida that 

caused injury, and violated rights prescribed by the ADA to Plaintiff. A substantial part of the acts 

and omissions giving rise to Plaintiff’s claims occurred in the Southern District of Florida. 

Specifically, on several separate occasions, Plaintiff has been denied the full use and enjoyment of 

the facilities, goods, and services of Defendant’s Website in Florida. The access barriers Plaintiff 

encountered on Defendant’s Website have caused a denial of Plaintiff’s full and equal access 

multiple times in the past, and now deter Plaintiff on a regular basis from accessing Defendant’s 

Website. Defendant Grendene Global Brands USA LLC is authorized to conduct, and is 

conducting, business within the State of Florida and within the jurisdiction of this court.

THE PARTIES

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34. Plaintiff Aishia Petersen, is a resident of the State of Florida. Plaintiff resides 

in Orlando. Aishia Petersen is legally blind, and a member of a protected class under the ADA. 

Whereby, she has a disability within the meaning of 42 U.S.C. § 12102(1)-(2), the regulations 

implementing the ADA set forth at 28 CFR §§ 36.101 et seq. and in 42 U.S.C. 3602, §802(h). 

Plaintiff was diagnosed with congenital glaucoma in both eyes by UM Health- Bascom Palmer 

Eye Institute, and consequently, is legally blind and the visual disability is permanent. Plaintiff is 

a legally blind individual who has a physical impairment that substantially limits the major life 

activity of seeing. Accordingly, she has a disability within the meaning of 42 U.S.C. § 12102 and 

28 C.F.R. § 35.104. Plaintiff is a qualified individual with a disability within the meaning of 42 

U.S.C. § 12131(2), 29 U.S. Code § 794 and 28 C.F.R. § 35.104. 

35. Plaintiff cannot use the computer without the assistance of a screen reader 

software. Petersen is a proficient user of the JAWS and Voiceover screen-reader to access the 

internet." JAWS, or "Job Access With Speech," Voiceover (Apple’s screen reader) or Voiceover

(Apple’s screen reader) are the most popular screen reading software for computers and mobile 

phones. For screen-reading software to work, the information on a website must be capable of 

being rendered into text. 

36. Grendene Global Brands USA LLC is a Foreign for profit Corporation. 

Defendant is the owner and operator of a chain of several of fashion shoe stores under the brand

name Melissa. Grendene company produces and distributes fashion shoes to its shops and 

distributors in Florida.

37. Upon information and belief, at all times material hereto, Defendant Grendene 

Global Brands USA LLC owns, operates, and/or manages the day-to-day affairs of Melissa (Clube 

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Melissa) stores which are operating within the State of Florida. Defendant’s store are public 

accommodations pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 12181(7)(E).

38. Plaintiff believes, and thereon alleges, that defendant Grendene Global Brands 

USA LLC corporate and affiliates and/or related entities, actively engaged in the sale of apparel

in various states throughout the country, including Florida. 

39. Said Defendant entities will hereinafter collectively be referred to as

“MELISSA” or, where appropriate, “Defendant.”

FACTS

40. Defendant is defined as a “Place of Public Accommodation" within meaning of 

Title III because Defendant is a private entity which owns and/or operates “[A] bakery, grocery 

store, clothing store, hardware store, shopping center, or other sales establishment,” 42 U.S.C. 

§12181(7)(E) and 28 C.F.R. §36.104(5). 

41. Each of Defendant Melissa’s stores are open to the public and each is a Place 

of Public Accommodation subject to the requirements of Title III of the ADA and its implementing 

regulation as “[A] ... other sales establishment,” as defined by 42 U.S.C. §12181(7)(E); §12182, 

and 28 C.F.R. Part 36. 

42. Melissa offers women and kids shoes for sale to the general public.

43. Defendant has control over several points of sale including the Website, its

content, design and source-code, and/or operates his web pages, including image and data content. 

Defendant owns and operate the domain name https://www.shopmelissa.com that is configured 

for use by desktop computer and mobile devices such as smartphones. 

44. One of the functions of Defendant’s Website (available to browse in mobile or 

computer desktop version) is to provide the public information on the various locations of 

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Defendant’s stores that sell shoes, sandals and accessories. The other function of the website is to 

sell Defendant’s products. 

45. Defendant’s Website is offered by Defendant as a way for the public to 

communicate with Melissa’s fashion shoe merchandise. Defendant’s Website also permits the 

public to register and create an account allows the general public to order and purchase fashion 

shoe merchandise, provides: customer service and locate a shop. 

46. Blind Plaintiff needs to plan her outgoings since at the physical store it is 

difficult to know the prices, price tags are not in Braille. Like innumerous customers, Plaintiff 

rather to accesses Defendant’s Website, since online purchase is faster or at least pre-purchase 

before Plaintiff goes to the store. Plaintiff has a concrete plan of visiting the store because Plaintiff 

admires the quality of Defendant’s products and would like to buy it in a regular basis. 

47. Plaintiff is a customer of Melissa’s stores since her intent to continue visiting a 

Melissa shoe store near her home. Plaintiff through her inquiries learned that there is a Melissa’s

stores in her area. 

48. During the month of August 2022, on several occasions, Plaintiff was denied 

access to Defendant’s website, because the Website was incompatible to screen-reader software. 

Plaintiff explains that the Website contains the following access barriers that prevents her from

free and full use of screen reader software. Plaintiff encountered these barriers that are persistent 

and include, but are not limited to: 

a. Product images are mislabeled, because it uses the image link or numbers instead a 

product description. Images have no id description (alt) screen-readers use keyboard keys to read 

and navigate the website. (For example the product page

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https://www.shopmelissa.com/collections/sandals/products/32823-melissa-kick-off-sandalplatform).

b. At https://www.shopmelissa.com images have duplicate id - the same label (description)

is used on more than one product. Each a element must contain text or an img with an alt attribute.

c. Plaintiff could not access sub-menu elements from the Navigation menu using the keyboard. 

Plaintiff tried to use the keyboard keys tab or arrow, hbut it was non-functional. The website does not 

work properly with screen-reader because is mouse dependent.

d. At the product page, when using the screen reader with keyboard keys it skips (jumps)

size, price and Add to bag, because these features have no focus. (Requires the use of mouse to 

complete a transaction). Plaintiff cannot find the sizes, price and how to add to bag.

e. Plaintiff attempted to purchase the shoe on the Product detail page and as a result, the

pop-up screen box opened, but the focus did not move from trigger button to dialog items. Plaintiff 

was unable to navigate through the content with the keyboard, because it lacks focus.

f. The feature “skip to Content” does not work to assist the navigation of the website, 

instead it jumps important content. The Exhibit A reports some of the Website accessibility issues.

49. Due to these barrier Plaintiff was unable and impeded to access: Plaintiff was

unable to learn (1) Defendant’s store locations open in her area; (2) the cost of Defendant’s shoes

merchandise; (3) buy a Melissa sandal on the Website and pick up at the nearest Melissa’s store; 

(4) get the special discounts; (5) register online (create an account); and (6)product pricing and 

finalizing an online purchase. Thus, Defendant’s Website creates an intangible barrier that 

prevents Petersen from “’accessing a privilege’ of a physical place of public accommodation, 

where Plaintiff cannot locate the defendant’s store, pre-purchase or make a purchase to pickup at 

the store.

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50. Plaintiff was unable to find an Accessibility Statement or notice to assist her 

navigate the Defendant’s website. During due diligence an expert was consulted and found 28 

unique issue-barriers under the WCAG=World Content Accessibility Guidelines, just in one page 

of the website, this website contains hundreds of code-lines that are incompatible with screenreaders, thus inaccessible to Plaintiff. (Attached Exhibit A)

51. During Plaintiff’s several visits to the website using JAWS and NVDA 

(computer) and Voiceover (cell-phone browsing) occurring in August 5, 2022 and the last in 

September 15, 2022, attempted to visit the physical store by checking the Website first, however 

the plaintiff encountered multiple access barriers that denied the plaintiff full and equal access to 

the facilities, goods and services offered to the public and made available to the public; and that 

denied the plaintiff the full enjoyment of the Defendant’s facilities, goods, and services.

AMERICAN WITH DISABILITIES ACT

52. The failure to access the information needed precluded Plaintiff’s ability to 

patronize Melissa’s stores because, as a blind individual, Plaintiff needs to plan her outings out in 

detail in order to have the proper financing for a venture, and ensure that Plaintiff arrives at a given 

location. 

53. Under Title III of the ADA, 42 U.S.C. §§ 12181–12189 (“Title III”), which 

addresses “Public Accommodations and Services Operated by Private Entities.” Title III provides 

that “[n]o individual shall be discriminated against on the basis of disability in any place of public 

accommodation.” 42 U.S.C. § 12182(a).

54. Title III provides that “no individual shall be discriminated against on the basis 

of disability” in “any Place of Public Accommodation.” 42 U.S.C. § 12182(a). As defined in Title 

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III, the term “public accommodation” includes a “store and sales establishment” Id. § 12181(7)(E). 

Defendant Grendene Global Brands USA LLC owns and operates stores, Melissa.

 55. On March 18, 2022, The Department of Justice issued Web Accessibility 

Guidance under the Americans with Disability Act. It explains how businesses open to the public 

(entities covered by ADA Title III) can make sure their websites are accessible to people with 

disabilities in line with the ADA’s requirements. (Exhibit B). The guidance discusses the 

importance of web accessibility, barriers that inaccessible websites create for people with 

disabilities, tips on making web content accessible and applied the Web Content Accessibility 

Guidelines (“WCAG”) 2.1 to determine accessibility. See https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justicedepartment-issues-web-accessibility-guidance-under-americans-disabilities-act. 

 56. Binding Court acknowledged that Title III’s public accommodation protection 

“covers both tangible and intangible barriers, such as screening rules or discriminatory 

procedures that restrict a disabled person’s ability to enjoy the defendant entity’s services and 

privileges.

57. Technology evolves, in these days, for consumers and business. Consumers are 

doing most of their shopping online. And business are seeing higher revenue from their online 

point of sales then their physical stores, based on business financial disclosures. Defendant’s 

provision of an e-commerce Website, which is the main point of sale, distribution, and revenue for 

Defendant’s business. The Website is an intangible, but essential part of the Defendant’s services 

and privileges offered by the Defendant’s stores to their customers to access Defendant’s goods.

58. Title III ADA Part 36 regulation was amended to integrate section 36.303

Auxiliary Aids and Services “A public accommodation shall furnish appropriate auxiliary aids and 

services where necessary to ensure effective communication with individuals with disabilities.”

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59. The access barriers Plaintiff encountered on Defendant’s website have caused

a denial of Plaintiff’s full and equal access multiple times in the past, and now deter Plaintiff on a 

regular basis from accessing Defendant’s Website. 

60. Plaintiff would like to become Defendant’s patron and access the Defendant’s 

physical store and the Website in the near future but the barriers Plaintiff encountered on 

Defendant’s Website has impeded Plaintiff’s full and equal enjoyment of goods and services 

offered at Defendant’s brick-and mortar stores.

61. The fact that Plaintiff could not access the Defendant’s Website and could not 

comprehend the electronic pages contained therein, left Plaintiff excluded from accessing 

Melissa’s stores, goods and services available from Defendant and further left her with the feeling 

of segregation, rejection, isolation, frustrated and humiliated and unable to participate in a 

manner equal to that afforded to others who are not similarly disabled. As a result, Plaintiff has 

suffered in a personal and individual way a particularized harm and an injury in fact.

62. Plaintiff cannot make proper arrangements for transportation of herself to the 

Melissa’s store locations without the ability to know in advance the Melissa’s goods and services 

which service is available online through Defendant’s Website. Plaintiff also faces a great degree 

of uncertainty of how to physically travel to Defendant Melissa’s store location. Plaintiff is 

effectively denied the ability to physically travel to Defendant Melissa’s store. 

63. Plaintiff has a concrete plan to purchase Melissa’s shoes and sandals and 

accessories when she is treated like other members of the public. By denying Plaintiff the 

opportunity to comprehend Melissa’s Website therein due to Plaintiff’s disability (visual 

impairment), Defendant has denied Plaintiff the opportunity to participate in or benefit from 

Defendant’s goods and services as afforded to the public. 

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64. Plaintiff will suffer continuous and ongoing harm from Defendant’s omissions, 

policies, and practices set forth herein unless enjoined by this Court. 

65. On information and belief, Defendant has not offered any form of Website in 

an accessible format for blind or visually impaired individuals. 

66. Thus, Defendant has not provided full and equal enjoyment of the services, 

facilities, privileges, advantages, and accommodations provided at its stores and authorized 

retailers.

67. All Public Accommodations must ensure that their Places of Public

Accommodation provide Effective Communication for all members of the general public, including 

individuals with disabilities pursuant Title III ADA 28 C.F.R. § 36.303.

68. Binding case law increasingly recognize that private entities are providing 

goods and services to the public through their online point of sale which operates as “Places of 

Public Accommodation” under Title III. 

69. A person who cannot see, like the Plaintiff in this case, cannot go to Defendant’s 

website and avail themselves of the same privileges. Thus, the Plaintiff has suffered discrimination 

due to Defendant’s failure to provide a reasonable accommodation for Plaintiff’s disability. 

70. Plaintiff has no plain, adequate, or complete remedy at law to redress the 

wrongs alleged hereinabove and this suit for injunctive relief is her only means to secure adequate 

redress from Defendant’s unlawful and discriminatory practices. 

71. Notice to Defendant is not required as a result of Defendant’s failure to cure the 

violations. Enforcement of the rights of Plaintiff is right and just pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 2201, 

2202. 

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72. Enforcement of Plaintiff’s rights under the ADA is right and just pursuant to 28 

U.S.C. §§ 2201 and 2202 and Title III ADA Subpart E Section 36.501.

73. Plaintiff has retained the law office of Acacia Barros, Esq. and has agreed to 

pay a reasonable fee for services in the prosecution of this cause, including costs and expenses 

incurred. Plaintiff is entitled to have reasonable attorneys’ fees, costs and expenses paid by 

Defendant Melissa.

COUNT I – VIOLATIONS OF THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT

74. Part 36 of Title 28 of the C.F.R. was designed and is implemented to effectuate 

subtitle of Title III of the ADA, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability by Public 

Accommodations and requires Places of Public Accommodation to be designed, constructed, and 

altered in compliance with the accessibility standards established by Part 36 Regulation. 

75. Defendant’s Website has not been designed to interface with the widely and 

readily available technologies for blinds that can be used to ensure effective communication.

76. As delineated above and pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §12181(7)(E), Defendant is a 

Public Accommodation under the ADA because it owns and/or operates the Website which is 

defined within §12181(7)(E), and is subject to the ADA.

77. No notice is required because under Title III of the ADA, 42 U.S.C. § 

12182(b)(1)(A)(II), it is unlawful discrimination to deny individuals with disabilities or a class of 

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

facilities, privileges, advantages, or accommodation, which is equal to the opportunities afforded 

to other individuals.

78. Unlawful discrimination includes “a failure to make reasonable modifications 

in policies, practices, or procedures, when such modifications are necessary to afford such goods, 

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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.” 42 U.S.C. § 

12182(b)(2)(A)(II). 

79. Unlawful discrimination also includes “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 taking such steps would fundamentally alter the 

nature of the good, service, facility, privilege, advantage, or accommodation being offered or 

would result in an undue burden.” 42 U.S.C. § 12182(b)(2)(A)(III).

80. Defendant is in violation of the ADA by creating barriers for individuals with 

disabilities who are visually impaired and who require the assistance of interface with screen reader 

software to comprehend and access its Website. These violations are ongoing.

81. As a result of the inadequate development and administration of Defendant’s 

Website, Plaintiff is entitled to injunctive relief pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §12133 and §12188, also 28 

C.F.R. §36.501 to remedy the discrimination.

82. Pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §12188, this Court is vested with the authority to grant 

Plaintiff Petersen injunctive relief; including an order to:

a) Require Defendant take the necessary steps to make the Website readily 

accessible to and usable by visually impaired users, and during that time period prior to the 

https://www.shopmelissa.com Website being readily accessible, to provide a temporary alternative 

method for individuals with visual impairments to access the information available on the Website 

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until such time that the requisite modifications are made. Title III American with Disabilities Act

Part 36 Regulation. 

b) Require Defendant to provide periodic maintenance of the accessible website 

thru the appropriate auxiliary aids such that individuals with visual impairments will be able to 

always receive effectively communication with the Website for purposes of viewing and locating

Melissa’s stores and becoming informed of and signing up for Melissa’s shoe products online, and 

of viewing electronic documents provided to the public within Defendant’s Website. 

c) During the time period prior to the Website’s being designed to permit 

individuals with visual impairments to effectively communicate, requiring Defendant to provide 

an alternative method for individuals with visual impairments to effectively communicate so they 

are not impeded from obtaining the goods and services made available to the public. Title III ADA 

Part 36 Regulation.

83. For all of the foregoing, the Plaintiff has no adequate remedy at law.

DEMAND FOR RELIEF

WHEREFORE, Plaintiff Aishia Petersen hereby demands judgment against

Defendant “GRENDENE GLOBAL BRANDS USA LLC” and requests the following injunctive 

relief permanently enjoin Defendant from any practice, policy and/or procedure which will deny 

Plaintiff equal access to, and benefit from Defendant’s services and goods, as well as the Court:

a. That the Court issue a Declaratory Judgment that determines that the Defendant’s 

websites at the commencement of the subject lawsuit is in violation of Title III of the Americans 

with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. § 12181 et seq.; 

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b. That the Court enter an Order directing Defendant to continually update and 

maintain their computer version of the defendant’s websites to ensure that it remains fully 

accessible to and usable by visually impaired individuals; 

c. That the Court issue an Injunctive relief order directing Defendant to alter their 

website to make it accessible to, and useable by, individuals with disabilities to the full extent 

required by Title III of the ADA; 

d. That the Court enter an Order directing Defendant to evaluate and neutralize their 

policies and procedures towards persons with disabilities for such reasonable time so as to allow 

Defendant to undertake and complete corrective procedures;

e. Further requests the Court to 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; 

f. That the Court enter an award of attorney’s fees, costs and litigation expenses 

pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 12205; and Title III of the ADA Section 36.505.

 Respectfully submitted,

Dated this 22nd day of September 2022.

/s/Acacia Barros

Attorney for Plaintiff

ACACIA BARROS, P.A.

Acacia Barros, Esq.

FBN: 106277

11120 N. Kendall Dr., Suite 201

Miami, Florida 33176

Tel: 305-639-8381

ab@barroslawfirm.com

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CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

 I hereby certify that on this 22nd day of September, 2022 that the foregoing document

has been filed using CM/ECF system and will be served via email when

Defendant/Defendant’s counsel enters an appearance.

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