Abraham Jewett | September 7, 2023
Walmart has failed to design its website in a way that would make it fully accessible to and independently usable by individuals who are blind or visually impaired, a new class action lawsuit alleges.
Plaintiff Ali Abdulhadi claims Walmart’s website contains access barriers to screen-reading software used by individuals who are blind or visually impaired to browse internet websites.
Abdulhadi, a legally blind man, argues Walmart is denying full and equal access of its website to individuals who are blind or visually impaired, in what he claims is a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
“Defendant’s denial of full and equal access to its website, and therefore denial of its products and services offered thereby and in conjunction with its physical locations, is a violation of Plaintiffs’ rights under the (ADA),” the Walmart class action states.
Abdulhadi wants to represent a nationwide class of all legally blind individuals who have tried to access Walmart’s website and, as a result, have been denied access to the equal enjoyment of goods and services on it.
Walmart refuses to remove access barriers on its website, says class action
Abdulhadi argues Walmart refuses to remove the alleged access barriers found on its website, and that it has never “had a plan or policy that is reasonably calculated” to make its website operable by individuals who are blind or visually impaired.
“Through his attempts to use the Website, Plaintiff has actual knowledge of the access barriers that make these services inaccessible and independently unusable by blind and visually impaired people,” the Walmart class action states.
In addition to allegedly violating the ADA, Abdulhadi claims Walmart is in violation of California’s Unruh Civil Rights Act.
The plaintiff is demanding a jury trial and requesting declaratory and injunctive relief along with an award of statutory damages for himself and all class members.
A number of other complaints have recently been filed against Walmart; the claims revolve around alleged fraudulent money transfers, defective touchscreen tablets and discrimination against shoppers.
Have you been denied equal access to the enjoyment of goods and services found on Walmart’s website? Let us know in the comments.
The plaintiff is represented by Robert Sabilia of Oceanside Law Center APC.
The Walmart website class action lawsuit is Abdulhadi v. Walmart Inc., Case No. 2:23-cv-07183, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.
