UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA

CASE NO. 

NELSON FERNANDEZ, 

Plaintiff,

vs.

STARBUCKS CORPORATION,

a foreign for-profit corporation,

Defendant.

______________________________/

COMPLAINT

Plaintiff NELSON FERNANDEZ, through undersigned counsel, sues Defendant

STARBUCKS CORPORATION, a foreign for-profit corporation, and alleges as follows:

1. This is an action for declaratory and injunctive relief, attorney’s fees, costs, and 

litigation expenses for unlawful disability discrimination in violation of Title III of the Americans 

with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. §§12181-12189 (“ADA”), as amended, and 28 C.F.R. Part 36. 

This is also an action for declaratory and injunctive relief to prevent the continuing act of trespass 

against the Plaintiff’s personal property (his personal computer and its hard drive), and for 

compensatory damages to Plaintiff for such trespass. Remedies provided under common law for 

trespass are not exclusive and may be sought in connection with suits brought under the ADA.

 2. 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. In addition, this Court has supplementary jurisdiction 

over Plaintiff’s common law tort claim pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §1367.

Case 9:22-cv-81538-AMC Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/04/2022 Page 1 of 21
3. Venue is proper in this Court as all actions complained of herein and injuries and 

damages suffered occurred in the Southern District of Florida.

4. Plaintiff NELSON FERNANDEZ is a resident of Palm Beach County, Florida, is 

sui juris, and is disabled as defined by the ADA and ADA Amendments Act of 2008, 42 U.S.C. 

§12101 (“ADAAA”).

5. Plaintiff is and at all relevant times has been a visually impaired and physically 

disabled person who has been diagnosed with Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (“RRMS”). 

As a result of his disease, Plaintiff is currently paralyzed in approximately 80% to 90% of his body 

as a whole and only has very limited use of his left hand. Further as a consequence of his disease, 

Plaintiff has developed optic neuritis and is visually disabled, with complete blindness in one eye 

and very limited vision in the other eye. Plaintiff thus is substantially limited in performing one 

or more major life activities, including, but not limited to, seeing and accurately visualizing his 

world and adequately traversing obstacles. As such, he is a member of a protected class under the 

ADA, 42 U.S.C. §12102(1)-(2), the regulations implementing the ADA set forth at 28 CFR 

§§36.101, et seq., and 42 U.S.C. §3602(h). Plaintiff further is an advocate of the rights of similarly 

situated disabled persons and is a “tester” for the purposes of asserting his civil rights and 

monitoring, ensuring, and determining whether places of public accommodation and/or their 

respective and associated websites are in compliance with the ADA and any other applicable 

disability laws, regulations, and ordinances. 

6. Because he is visually disabled, Plaintiff cannot use his computer without the 

assistance of appropriate and available auxiliary aids, screen reader software, and other technology 

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

At a rapid pace, the software reads the content of a webpage to the user. “The screen reading 

Case 9:22-cv-81538-AMC Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/04/2022 Page 2 of 21
software uses auditory cues to allow a visually impaired user to effectively use websites. For 

example, when using the visual internet, a seeing user learns that a link may be ‘clicked,’ which 

will bring him to another webpage, through visual cues, such as a change in the color of the text 

(often text is turned from black to blue). When the sighted user's cursor hovers over the link, it 

changes from an arrow symbol to a hand. The screen reading software uses auditory -- rather than 

visual -- cues to relay this same information. When a sight impaired individual reaches a link that 

may be ‘clicked on,’ the software reads the link to the user, and after reading the text of the link 

says the word ‘clickable.’...Through a series of auditory cues read aloud by the screen reader, the 

visually impaired user can navigate a website by listening and responding with his keyboard.” 

Andrews v. Blick Art Materials, LLC, 17-CV-767, 2017 WL 6542466, at *6-7 (E.D.N.Y. Dec. 21, 

2017).

7. Defendant is a foreign for-profit corporation authorized to do business and doing 

business in the State of Florida. Defendant owns, operates, and/or controls a worldwide chain of 

coffee shops selling beverages, food, and merchandise, including one of the shops Plaintiff 

intended to patronize in the near future located at 16850 Jog Road, Delray Beach, Florida. 

8. Plaintiff’s visual disability limits him in the performance of major life activities, 

including sight, and he requires assistive technologies, auxiliary aids, and services for effective 

communication, including communication in connection with his use of a computer. 

9. Plaintiff frequently accesses the internet. Because he is significantly and 

permanently visually disabled, to effectively communicate and comprehend information available 

on the internet and thereby access and comprehend websites, Plaintiff uses commercially available 

screen reader software to interface with the various websites.

Case 9:22-cv-81538-AMC Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/04/2022 Page 3 of 21
10. At all times material hereto, Defendant was and still is an organization that owns,

operates, and/or controls a chain of over 30,000 coffee shops selling beverages, food, and 

merchandise under the brand name “Starbucks.”. Each Starbucks shop is open to the public. As 

the owner and operator of these retail stores, Defendant is defined as a place of “public 

accommodation" within meaning of the ADA because Defendant is a private entity which owns 

and/or operates “a bakery, grocery store, clothing store, hardware store, shopping center, or other 

sales or rental establishment,” per 42 U.S.C. §12181(7)(E) and 28 C.F.R. §36.104(2). In addition, 

Defendant is defined as a place of “public accommodation" within meaning of the ADA because 

it is a private entity that own, control, and/or operate “a restaurant, bar, or other establishment 

serving food and drink,” per 42 U.S.C. §12181(7)(B) and 28 C.F.R. §36.104(2).

11. Because Defendant is a shop open to the public, each of Defendant’s physical shops 

is a place of public accommodation subject to the requirements of the ADA, 42 U.S.C. §§12182, 

12181(7)(B), and§12181(7)(E), and the ADA’s implementing regulations, 28 C.F.R. Part 36. 

12. Defendant also owns, controls, maintains, and/or operates an adjunct website, 

https://www.starbucks.com (the “Website”). One of the functions of the Website is to provide the 

public information on the locations of Defendant’s shops through a “store locator” feature. 

Defendant also sells to the public its merchandise through the Website, which acts as a point of 

sale for its food and beverage products and merchandise available in, from, and through its physical 

shops. 

13. The Website also services Defendant’s physical shops by providing information on 

available products, services, tips and advice, editorials, sales campaigns, events, and other 

information that Defendant is interested in communicating to its customers.

Case 9:22-cv-81538-AMC Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/04/2022 Page 4 of 21
14. Because the Website allows the public the ability to secure information about the 

locations of Defendant’s physical shops, purchase food, beverages, and merchandise also available 

for purchase in and from the physical shops, purchase gift cards for use online and in the physical 

shops, arrange in-shop pickups and delivery of food and beverages purchased online, and sign up 

for an emailer to receive exclusive online offers, benefits, invitations, and discounts for use online 

and in the physical shops, the Website has a nexus to, and is an extension of and gateway to, the 

goods, services, privileges, and advantages of Defendant’s physical shops, which are places of 

public accommodation under the ADA. As an extension of and service, privilege, and advantage 

provided by a place of public accommodation as defined under the ADA, the Website is an 

extension of the services, privileges, and advantages made available to the general public by 

Defendant at and through its brick-and-mortar locations and businesses. Furthermore, the Website 

is a necessary service and privilege of Defendant’s physical shops in that, as a point of sale for 

Defendant’s stores, it enables users of the Website to make online purchases of Defendant’s food, 

beverages, and merchandise that is available from and in its physical shops.

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

that are made in and also offered for sale in Defendant’s physical shops, thus having the Website 

act as a point of sale for Defendant’s products also sold in the physical shops, purchase gift cards 

to make purchases both online and in the physical shops, arrange in-store pickups and delivery of 

food and beverages made in the physical shops and purchased online, and sign up for an emailer 

to receive exclusive online offers, benefits, invitations, and discounts for use online and in the 

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

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

Website is a necessary service, privilege, and advantage of Defendant’s brick-and-mortar shops 

Case 9:22-cv-81538-AMC Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/04/2022 Page 5 of 21
that must comply with all requirements of the ADA, 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 shops.

16. At all times material hereto, Defendant was and still is an organization owning,

operating, and/or controlling the Website. Since the Website is open to the public through the 

internet, it is an intangible service, privilege, and advantage of Defendant’s brick-and-mortar shops 

that must comply with all requirements of the ADA, 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 as afforded the non-disabled public 

both online and in the physical shops. As such, Defendant has subjected itself and the Website to 

the requirements of the ADA.

17. Plaintiff is and has been a customer who is interested in patronizing, and intends to 

patronize in the near future once the Website’s access barriers are removed or remedied, one or 

more of Defendant’s physical shops (including the shop located at 16850 Jog Road, Delray Beach, 

Florida), and to search for the brick-and-mortar shops, check shop hours and product pricing, 

purchase food, beverages and merchandise available from and in the physical shops, purchase gift 

cards for us4e online and int the physical shops, arrange in-store pickups and deliveries of food 

and beverages from the physical shops purchased online, and sign up for an emailer to receive 

exclusive offers, benefits, invitations, and discounts for use at the Website or in Defendant’s 

physical shops. In the alternative, Plaintiff intends to monitor the Website in the near future as a 

tester to ascertain whether it has been remedied and updated to interact properly with screen reader 

software. 

Case 9:22-cv-81538-AMC Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/04/2022 Page 6 of 21
18. The opportunity to shop and pre-shop Defendant’s food, beverages, and 

merchandise, purchase gift cards, arrange in-store pickups and deliveries of food and beverages 

made in the physical shops but purchased online, and sign up for an emailer to receive exclusive 

online offers, benefits, invitations, and discounts for use both online and in the physical shops from 

his home are important and necessary accommodations for Plaintiff because traveling outside of 

his home as a visually disabled individual is often a difficult, hazardous, frightening, frustrating, 

and confusing experience. Defendant has not provided its business information in any other digital 

format that is accessible for use by blind and visually disabled individuals using screen reader 

software.

19. Like many consumers, Plaintiff accesses a number of websites at a time to help plan 

his shop visits and compare merchandise, services, prices, sales, discounts, and promotions. 

Plaintiff may look at several dozens of sites to compare features, discounts, promotions, and prices.

20. During the month of July 2022, Plaintiff attempted on a number of occasions to 

utilize the Website to browse through the food, beverages and merchandise and the online offers 

to educate himself as to the food, beverages, merchandise, sales, discounts, and promotions being 

offered, learn about the brick-and-mortar shops, check shop hours, and check product pricing with 

the intent to make a purchase through the Website or in one of the physical shops. Plaintiff, also 

attempted to access and utilize the Website in his capacity as a tester to determine whether it was 

accessible to blind and visually disabled persons such as himself who use screen reader software 

to access and navigate company websites.

21. Plaintiff utilizes available screen reader software that allows individuals who are 

blind and visually disabled to communicate with websites. However, Defendant’s Website 

contains access barriers that prevent free and full use by blind and visually disabled individuals 

Case 9:22-cv-81538-AMC Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/04/2022 Page 7 of 21
using keyboards and available screen reader software. These barriers are pervasive and include, 

but are not limited to: 

a. The home page button/company logo is mislabeled;

b. Text throughout the Website is not labeled; the cursor skips the information and 

navigates the nearest accessible link, button, or header; and

c. The notification that an item has been added to the shopping cart is not labeled.

22. Plaintiff attempted to locate an “accessibility” notice, statement, or policy on the

Website that would direct him to a webpage with contact information for disabled individuals who

have questions or concerns about, or who are having difficulties communicating with, the

Website. However, Plaintiff was unable to do so because no such link or notice, statement, or 

policy existed on the Website.

23. The fact that Plaintiff could not communicate with or within the Website left him 

feeling excluded, as he is unable to participate in the same shopping experience, with the same 

access to the food, beverages, merchandise, sales, discounts, and promotions, as provided at the 

Website and in the physical shops as the non-visually disabled public.

24. Plaintiff desires and intends, in the near future once the Website’s access barriers 

are removed or remedied, to patronize one or more of Defendant’s physical shops and to use the 

Website, but he is presently unable to do so as he is unable to effectively communicate with 

Defendant due to his severe visual disability and the Website’s access barriers. Alternatively, as 

a tester using screen reader software, Plaintiff is unable to effectively access, navigate, and 

communicate with Defendant through the Website due to his severe visual disability and the 

Website’s access barriers. Thus, Plaintiff, as well as others who are blind and with visual 

disabilities, will suffer continuous and ongoing harm from Defendant’s intentional acts, omissions, 

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

Case 9:22-cv-81538-AMC Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/04/2022 Page 8 of 21
25. Because of the nexus between Defendant’s physical shops and the Website, and the 

fact that the Website clearly provides support for and is connected to Defendant’s physical shops 

for its operation and use, the Website is an intangible service, privilege, and advantage of 

Defendant’s brick-and-mortar shops that must comply with all requirements of the ADA, must not 

discriminate against individuals with disabilities, and must not deny those individuals the same 

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

afforded the non-visually disabled public both online and in the physical shops, which are places 

of public accommodations subject to the requirements of the ADA.

26. On information and belief, Defendant has not initiated a Web Accessibility Policy 

to ensure full and equal use of the Website by individuals with disabilities.

27. On information and belief, Defendant has not instituted a Web Accessibility

Committee to ensure full and equal use of Website by individuals with disabilities.

28. On information and belief, Defendant has not designated an employee as a Web 

Accessibility Coordinator to ensure full and equal use of the Website by individuals with

disabilities.

29. On information and belief, Defendant has not instituted a Web Accessibility User 

Accessibility Testing Group to ensure full and equal use of the Website by individuals with 

disabilities.

30. On information and belief, Defendant has not instituted a User Accessibility 

Testing Group to ensure full and equal use of the Website by individuals with disabilities.

31. On information and belief, Defendant has not instituted a Bug Fix Priority Policy.

32. On information and belief, Defendant has not instituted an Automated Web 

Accessibility Testing program. 

Case 9:22-cv-81538-AMC Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/04/2022 Page 9 of 21
33. Defendant has not created and instituted a Specialized Customer Assistance line or 

service or email contact mode for customer assistance for the visually disabled.

34. Defendant has not created and instituted on the Website a page for individuals with 

disabilities, nor displayed a link and information hotline, nor created an information portal 

explaining when and how Defendant will have the Website, applications, and digital assets 

accessible to the visually disabled or blind community.

35. The Website does not meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (“WCAG”) 

2.0 Level AA or higher versions of web accessibility.

36. Defendant has not disclosed to the public any intended audits, changes, or lawsuits 

to correct the inaccessibility of the Website to visually disabled individuals who want the safety 

and privacy of purchasing Defendant’s food, beverages, and merchandise offered on the Website 

from their homes.

37. Defendant thus has not provided full and equal access to and enjoyment of the 

goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, and accommodations provided by and through 

the Website and the physical shops in contravention of the ADA.

38. Public accommodations under the ADA must ensure that their places of public 

accommodation provide effective communication for all members of the general public, including 

individuals with visual disabilities such as Plaintiff.

39. The broad mandate of the ADA is to provide an equal opportunity for individuals 

with disabilities to participate in and benefit from all aspects of American civic and economic life. 

That mandate extends to internet shopping websites such as the Website at issue in the instant 

action.

Case 9:22-cv-81538-AMC Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/04/2022 Page 10 of 21
40. Defendant is, and at all relevant times has been, aware of the barriers to effective 

communication within the Website which prevent individuals with visual disabilities from the 

means to comprehend information presented therein.

41. Defendant is, and at all relevant times has been, aware of the need to provide full 

access to all visitors to the Website.

42. The barriers that exist on the Website result in discriminatory and unequal 

treatment of individuals with visual disabilities, including Plaintiff.

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

alleged hereinabove, and this suit for declaratory judgment and injunctive relief is his only means 

to secure adequate and complete redress from Defendant’s unlawful and discriminatory practices 

in connection with the Website’s access and operation.

44. Notice to Defendant is not required because of Defendant’s failure to cure the 

violations. 

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

U.S.C. §§2201 and 2202.

46. Plaintiff has retained the undersigned attorneys to represent him in this case and 

has agreed to pay them a reasonable fee for their services.

Trespass Violations

47. Plaintiff utilizes his computer to access websites such as the Website. 

48. Plaintiff uses his computer as a method of conveyance of his personal information. 

Plaintiff thus stores his personal information and retains his browsing history on his computer.

49. When a user accesses the Website, Defendant places information tracking and 

gathering software on the user’s personal computer and hard drive without the user’s advance 

Case 9:22-cv-81538-AMC Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/04/2022 Page 11 of 21
consent or knowledge. Defendant also plants browser cookies on a user’s computer and hard drive 

to identify websites that the user has previously visited by accessing the user’s web browser 

history.

50. Defendant informs the Website user that the user’s personal information and 

browsing history is collected and is used for targeted marketing and advertising. However, 

because of his blindness, Plaintiff was unable to comprehend the Website; therefore, Plaintiff had 

no choice, and likewise no knowledge, of Defendant’s installation of data and information tracking 

and gathering software on his computer and the collection of Plaintiff’s browsing history and 

analytics.

51. Thus, through the Website, Defendant has committed a trespass against Plaintiff 

since the Website places information tracking and gathering software on the Plaintiff’s computer 

without Plaintiff’s knowledge or consent.

COUNT I – VIOLATION OF THE ADA

52. Plaintiff re-alleges paragraphs 1 through 47 as if set forth fully herein.

53. Pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §12181(7)(B) and (E), Defendant is a public accommodation 

under the ADA and thus is subject to the ADA.

54. Pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §12181(7)(B) and (E), the Website is covered under the ADA 

because it provides the general public with the ability to locate and learn about Defendant’s 

physical shops, purchase food, beverages, and merchandise that is also available for purchase from 

and in the physical shops, purchase gift cards for use both online and in the physical shops, arrange 

in-store pickups and deliveries of food and beverages purchased made in the physical shops but 

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

invitations, and discounts for use both online and in the physical shops. The Website thus is an 

Case 9:22-cv-81538-AMC Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/04/2022 Page 12 of 21
extension of, gateway to, and intangible service, privilege, and advantage of Defendant’s physical 

shops. Further, the Website also serves to augment Defendant’s physical shops by providing the 

public information about the shops and by educating the public as to Defendant’s available food, 

beverages, and merchandise sold through the Website and in the physical shops.

55. 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.

56. Specifically, under Title III of the ADA, 42 U.S.C. §12182(b)(2)(A)(II), unlawful 

discrimination 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.”

57. In addition, under Title III of the ADA, 42 U.S.C. §12182(b)(2)(A)(III), unlawful 

discrimination includes, among other things, “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.”

58. Defendant’s Website must comply with the ADA, but it does not as specifically 

alleged hereinabove and below.

Case 9:22-cv-81538-AMC Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/04/2022 Page 13 of 21
59. Because of the inaccessibility of the Website, individuals with disabilities who are 

blind and visually disabled are denied full and equal access to and enjoyment of the goods, 

information, and services that Defendant has made available to the public on the Website and in 

its physical shops in violation of 42 U.S.C. §12101, et seq, and as prohibited by 42 U.S.C. §12182, 

et seq.

60. The Website was subsequently visited by Plaintiff’s expert in August 2022 and

the expert determination was that the same access barriers that Plaintiff had initially encountered,

as well as numerous additional access barriers, existed. Despite being a defendant in several prior

ADA website accessibility lawsuits, which likely resulted in confidential settlement agreements

that obligated Defendant to fully remediate the Website, Defendant has made insufficient material

changes or improvements to the Website to enable its full use and enjoyment by, and accessibility

to, blind and visually disabled persons such as Plaintiff. Defendant also has not disclosed to the 

public any intended audits, changes, or lawsuits to correct the inaccessibility of the Website to 

visually disabled individuals, nor has it posted on the Website a conspicuous and effective 

“accessibility” notice, statement, or policy to provide blind and visually disabled persons such as 

Plaintiff with a viable alternative means to access and navigate the Website. Defendant thus has 

failed to make reasonable modifications in its policies, practices, or procedures when such 

modifications are necessary to afford goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, or 

accommodations to individuals with disabilities, in violation of 28 C.F.R. §36.302. The lack of a 

viable and effective “accessibility” notice, policy, or statement and the numerous access barriers 

as set forth in the Declaration of Plaintiff’s expert, Robert D. Moody, attached hereto as Composite 

Exhibit “A” and the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference, continue to render the 

Website not fully accessible to users who are blind and visually disabled, including Plaintiff.

Case 9:22-cv-81538-AMC Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/04/2022 Page 14 of 21
61. More violations may be present on other pages of the Website, which can and will 

be determined and proven through the discovery process in this case.

62. Further, the Website does not offer or include the universal symbol for the disabled 

that would permit disabled individuals to access the Website’s accessibility information and 

accessibility facts.

63. There are readily available, well-established guidelines on the internet for making 

Websites accessible to the blind and visually disabled. These guidelines have been followed by 

other large business entities in making their websites accessible. Examples of such guidelines 

include, but are not limited to, adding alt-text to graphics and ensuring that all functions can be 

performed using a keyboard. Incorporating such basic components to make the Website accessible 

would neither fundamentally alter the nature of Defendant’s business nor would it result in an 

undue burden to Defendant.

64. Defendant has violated the ADA -- and continues to violate the ADA -- by denying 

access to the Website by individuals such as Plaintiff with visual disabilities who require the 

assistance of interface with screen reader software to comprehend and access internet websites. 

These violations within the Website are ongoing.

65. The ADA requires that public accommodations and places of public 

accommodation ensure that communication is effective. 

66. According to 28 C.F.R. §36.303(b)(1), auxiliary aids and services include “voice, 

text, and video-based telecommunications products and systems”. Indeed, 28 C.F.R. 

§36.303(b)(2) specifically states that screen reader software is an effective method of making 

visually delivered material available to individuals who are blind or have low vision.

Case 9:22-cv-81538-AMC Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/04/2022 Page 15 of 21
67. According to 28 C.F.R. §36.303(c), public accommodations must furnish 

appropriate auxiliary aids and services where necessary to ensure effective communication with 

individuals with disabilities: “In order to be effective, auxiliary aids and services must be provided 

in accessible formats, in a timely manner, and in such a way as to protect the privacy and 

independence of the individual with a disability,” 28 C.F.R. §36.303(c)(1)(ii).

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

subtitle A 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.

69. As alleged hereinabove, the Website has not been designed to interface with the 

widely and readily available technologies that can be used to ensure effective communication, and 

thus violates the ADA.

70. As a direct and proximate result of Defendant’s failure to provide an ADA 

compliant Website, with a nexus to its brick-and-mortar shops, Plaintiff has suffered an injury in 

fact by being denied full access to, enjoyment of, and communication with Defendant’s Website 

and its physical shops. 

71. Because of the inadequate development and administration of the Website, Plaintiff 

is entitled to injunctive relief pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §12133 and 28 C.F.R. §36.303, to remedy the 

ongoing disability discrimination. 

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

Plaintiff appropriate and necessary injunctive relief, including an order to: 

a) Require Defendant to adopt and implement a web accessibility policy to make publicly 

available and directly link from the homepage of the Website to a functional statement as to the 

Case 9:22-cv-81538-AMC Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/04/2022 Page 16 of 21
Defendant’s policy to ensure persons with disabilities have full and equal access to and enjoyment 

of the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, and accommodations through the Website

and in the physical shops.

b) Require Defendant to take the necessary steps to make the Website readily accessible 

to and usable by blind and visually disabled users, and during that time period prior to the 

Website’s being made readily accessible, provide an alternative method for individuals with visual 

disabilities to access the information available on the Website until such time that the requisite 

modifications are made, and 

c) Require Defendant to provide the appropriate auxiliary aids such that individuals with 

visual disabilities will be able to effectively communicate with the Website for purposes of 

viewing and locating Defendant’s physical shops and becoming informed of and purchasing 

Defendant’s merchandise, and during that time period prior to the Website’s being designed to 

permit individuals with visual disabilities to effectively communicate, to provide an alternative 

method for individuals with visual disabilities to effectively communicate for such goods and 

services made available to the general public through the Website and the physical shops. 

73. Plaintiff is entitled to recover his reasonable attorney’s fees, costs, and expenses 

pursuant to the ADA. To that end, Plaintiff has been obligated to retain the undersigned counsel 

for the filing and prosecution of this action and has agreed to pay them a reasonable fee for their 

services. 

WHEREFORE, Plaintiff requests entry of judgment in his favor and against Defendant for 

the following relief:

A. A declaration that Defendant’s Website is in violation of the ADA;

Case 9:22-cv-81538-AMC Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/04/2022 Page 17 of 21
B. An Order requiring Defendant, by a date certain, to update the Website, and continue 

to monitor and update the Website on an ongoing basis, to remove barriers in order that 

individuals with visual disabilities can access, and continue to access, the Website and 

effectively communicate with the Website to the full extent required by Title III of the 

ADA; 

C. An Order requiring Defendant, by a date certain, to clearly display the universal 

disabled logo within the Website, wherein the logo1 would lead to a page which would 

state Defendant’s accessibility information, facts, policies, and accommodations. Such 

a clear display of the disabled logo is to ensure that individuals who are disabled are 

aware of the availability of the accessible features of the Website;

D. An Order requiring Defendant, by a date certain, to provide ongoing support for web 

accessibility by implementing a website accessibility coordinator, a website application 

accessibility policy, and providing for website accessibility feedback to ensure 

compliance thereto;

E. An Order directing Defendant, by a date certain, to evaluate its policies, practices and 

procedures toward persons with disabilities, for such reasonable time to allow 

Defendant to undertake and complete corrective procedures to its Website;

F. An Order directing Defendant, by a date certain, to establish a policy of web 

accessibility and accessibility features for the Website to ensure effective 

communication for individuals who are visually disabled;

1 or similar.

Case 9:22-cv-81538-AMC Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/04/2022 Page 18 of 21
G. An Order requiring, by a date certain, that any third-party vendors who participate on 

Defendant’s Website to be fully accessible to the visually disabled;

H. An Order directing Defendant, by a date certain and at least once yearly thereafter, to 

provide mandatory web accessibility training to all employees who write or develop 

programs or code for, or who publish final content to, the Website on how to conform 

all web content and services with ADA accessibility requirements and applicable 

accessibility guidelines;

I. An Order directing Defendant, by a date certain and at least once every three months 

thereafter, to conduct automated accessibility tests of the Website to identify any 

instances where the Website is no longer in conformance with the accessibility 

requirements of the ADA and any applicable accessibility guidelines, and further 

directing Defendant to send a copy of the twelve (12) quarterly reports to Plaintiff’s 

counsel for review;

J. An Order directing Defendant, by a date certain, to make publicly available and directly 

link from the Website homepage, a statement of Defendant’s Accessibility Policy to 

ensure the persons with disabilities have full and equal enjoyment of the Website and 

shall accompany the public policy statement with an accessible means of submitting 

accessibility questions and problems; 

K. An award to Plaintiff of her reasonable attorney’s fees, costs and expenses; and

L. Such other and further relief as the Court deems just and equitable. 

COUNT II – TRESPASS

74. Plaintiff re-alleges paragraphs 1 through 51 as if set forth fully herein.

Case 9:22-cv-81538-AMC Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/04/2022 Page 19 of 21
75. Plaintiff’s tangible personal property, being his computer and the personal 

information and browsing history stored therein, has suffered a trespass by Defendant on each and 

every date that the Plaintiff has accessed Defendant’s Website, due to Defendant’s employment of 

information tracking and gathering software and analytics which are present on and through the 

Website.

76. At all relevant times, Plaintiff did not consent to and was unaware that the Website 

was placing the information tracking and gathering software on his computer and its hard drive 

due to his visual disability and his inability to effectively communicate with and fully view and 

access the Website.

77. Plaintiff did not consent to the placement of information tracking and gathering 

software on his computer and its hard drive; therefore, Defendant has committed a trespass against 

Plaintiff by placing such software on his computer and its hard drive without his knowledge or 

consent.

78. By the acts described hereinabove, Defendant has repeatedly and persistently 

engaged in trespass of Plaintiff’s personal property in violation of Florida common law against 

trespass to chattel.

79. Defendant’s installation, operation, and execution of information tracking and 

gathering software on Plaintiff’s computer have directly and proximately impaired the condition 

and value of the Plaintiff’s computer, thereby causing Plaintiff damages.

80. The Website has a “Privacy Policy” that discusses the automatic gathering of 

information from and the automatic placement of cookies and other information gathering software 

on, computers of users of the Website such as Plaintiff. A copy of that “Privacy Policy” is attached 

hereto as Exhibit “B” and its contents are incorporated herein by reference.

Case 9:22-cv-81538-AMC Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/04/2022 Page 20 of 21
81. Defendant’s trespass to chattel, nuisance, and interference has caused real and 

substantial damage to Plaintiff as follows:

a) By consuming the resources of and/or degrading the performance of Plaintiff’s 

computer (including space, memory, processing cycles, and internet connectivity);

b) By infringing on Plaintiff’s right to exclude others from his computer;

c) By infringing on Plaintiff’s right to determine, as the owner of his computer , which 

programs should be installed and operated on his computer;

d) By compromising the integrity, security, and ownership of Plaintiff’s computer ; and

e) By forcing Plaintiff to expend money, time, and resources in order to remove the 

programs that had been installed on his computer without notice or consent.

82. Defendant’s actions were taken knowingly, willfully, intentionally, and in reckless 

disregard for Plaintiff’s rights under the law.

WHEREFORE, Plaintiff demands a judgment be entered against Defendant for all of 

Plaintiff’s compensatory damages, interest, costs, and such further relief as the Court deems just 

and equitable.

DATED: October 4, 2022.

RODERICK V. HANNAH, ESQ., P.A. LAW OFFICE OF PELAYO

Counsel for Plaintiff DURAN, P.A.

4800 N. Hiatus Road Co-Counsel for Plaintiff

Sunrise, FL 33351 4640 N.W. 7th Street

T. 954/362-3800 Miami, FL 33126-2309

954/362-3779 (Facsimile) T. 305/266-9780 

Email: rhannah@rhannahlaw.com 305/269-8311 (Facsimile)

Email: duranandassociates@gmail.com 

By: s/ Roderick V. Hannah By: s/ Pelayo M. Duran 

RODERICK V. HANNAH PELAYO M. DURAN

Fla. Bar No. 435384 Fla. Bar No. No. 0146595

Case 9:22-cv-81538-AMC Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/04/2022 Page 21 of 21