Complaint

Case 1:22-cv-03148-KAM-RER Document 1 Filed 05/27/22 Page 1 of 20 PageID #: 1 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -x MARINA ISKHAKOVA, on behalf of herself and : all others similarly situated, : : Case No.: 1:22-cv-3148 Plaintiffs, : : CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT v. : AND : DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL THE MACERICH COMPANY, : : Defendant. : : : - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -x INTRODUCTION 1. Plaintiff MARINA ISKHAKOVA, on behalf of herself and others similarly situated, asserts the following claims against Defendant THE MACERICH COMPANY, as follows. 2. Plaintiff is a visually-impaired and legally blind person who requires screen- reading software to read website content using her computer. Plaintiff uses the terms “blind” or “visually-impaired” to refer to all people with visual impairments who meet the legal definition of blindness in that they have a visual acuity with correction of less than or equal to 20 x 200. Some blind people who meet this definition have limited vision. Others have no vision. 3. Based on a 2010 U.S. Census Bureau report, approximately 8.1 million people in the United States are visually impaired, including 2.0 million who are blind, and according to the American Foundation for the Blind’s 2015 report, approximately 400,000 visually impaired persons live in the State of New York. -1- Case 1:22-cv-03148-KAM-RER Document 1 Filed 05/27/22 Page 2 of 20 PageID #: 2 4. Plaintiff brings this civil rights action against Defendant for its failure to design, construct, maintain, and operate its website to be fully accessible to and independently usable by Plaintiff and other blind or visually-impaired people. Defendant’s denial of full and equal access to its website, and therefore denial of its goods and services offered thereby, is a violation of Plaintiff’s rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”). 5. Because Defendant’s website, www.kingsplazaonline.com (the “Website”), is not equally accessible to blind and visually impaired consumers, it violates the ADA. Plaintiff seeks a permanent injunction to cause a change in Defendant’s corporate policies, practices, and procedures so that Defendant’s website will become and remain accessible to blind and visually-impaired consumers. JURISDICTION AND VENUE 6. This Court has subject-matter jurisdiction over this action under 28 U.S.C. § 1331 and 42 U.S.C. § 12182, as Plaintiff’s claims arise under Title III of the ADA, 42 U.S.C. § 12182, et seq. 7. This Court has supplemental jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1367 over Plaintiff’s New York City Human Rights Law, N.Y.C. Admin. Code § 8-101 et seq., (“NYCHRL”) claims. 8. Venue is proper in this district under 28 U.S.C. §1391(b)(1) and (2) because Defendant conducts and continues to conduct a substantial and significant amount of business in this District, and a substantial portion of the conduct complained of herein occurred in this District because Plaintiff attempted to utilize, on a number of occasions, the subject Website within this Judicial District. -2- Case 1:22-cv-03148-KAM-RER Document 1 Filed 05/27/22 Page 3 of 20 PageID #: 3 9. Defendant is subject to personal jurisdiction in this District. Defendant has been and is committing the acts or omissions alleged herein in the Eastern District of New York that caused injury and violated rights the ADA prescribes to Plaintiff and to other blind and other visually impaired-consumers. A substantial part of the acts and omissions giving rise to Plaintiff’s claims occurred in this District: on several separate occasions, Plaintiff has been denied the full use and enjoyment of the facilities, goods and services offered to the general public, on Defendant’s Website in Queens County. These access barriers that Plaintiff encountered 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 the Defendant’s Website in the future. 10. This Court is empowered to issue a declaratory judgment under 28 U.S.C. §§ 2201 and 2202. THE PARTIES 11. Plaintiff MARINA ISKHAKOVA, at all relevant times, is and was a resident of Queens County, New York. 12. Plaintiff is a blind, visually-impaired handicapped person and a member of a protected class of individuals under the ADA, under 42 U.S.C. § 12102(1)-(2), and the regulations implementing the ADA set forth at 28 CFR §§ 36.101 et seq., and NYCHRL. 13. Defendant is, and at all relevant times was, doing business in this jurisdiction. 14. Defendant’s Website, and its goods, and services offered thereupon, is a public accommodation within the definition of Title III of the ADA, 42 U.S.C. § 12181(7). NATURE OF ACTION -3- Case 1:22-cv-03148-KAM-RER Document 1 Filed 05/27/22 Page 4 of 20 PageID #: 4 15. The Internet has become a significant source of information, a portal, and a tool for conducting business, doing everyday activities such as shopping, learning, banking, researching, as well as many other activities for sighted, blind and visually- impaired persons alike. 16. In today’s tech-savvy world, blind and visually impaired people have the ability to access websites using keyboards in conjunction with screen access software that vocalizes the visual information found on a computer screen or displays the content on a refreshable Braille display. This technology is known as screen-reading software. Screen-reading software is currently the only method a blind or visually- impaired person may use to independently access the internet. Unless websites are designed to be read by screen-reading software, blind and visually-impaired persons are unable to fully access websites, and the information, products, goods and contained thereon. 17. Blind and visually-impaired users of Windows operating system-enabled computers and devices have several screen reading software programs available to them. Some of these programs are available for purchase and other programs are available without the user having to purchase the program separately. Job Access With Speech, otherwise known as “JAWS” is currently the most popular, separately purchased and downloaded screen-reading software program available for a Windows computer. Another popular screen-reading software program available for a Windows computer is NonVisual Desktop Access “NVDA”. 18. For screen-reading software to function, the information on a website must be capable of being rendered into text. If the website content is not capable of being -4- Case 1:22-cv-03148-KAM-RER Document 1 Filed 05/27/22 Page 5 of 20 PageID #: 5 rendered into text, the blind or visually-impaired user is unable to access the same content available to sighted users. 19. The international website standards organization, the World Wide Web Consortium, known throughout the world as W3C, has published version 2.1 of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (“WCAG 2.1”). WCAG 2.1 are well- established guidelines for making websites accessible to blind and visually- impaired people. These guidelines are universally followed by most large business entities and government agencies to ensure their websites are accessible. 20. Non-compliant websites pose common access barriers to blind and visually- impaired persons. Common barriers encountered by blind and visually impaired persons include, but are not limited to, the following: a. A text equivalent for every non-text element is not provided; b. Title frames with text are not provided for identification and navigation; c. Equivalent text is not provided when using scripts; d. Forms with the same information and functionality as for sighted persons are not provided; e. Information about the meaning and structure of content is not conveyed by more than the visual presentation of content; f. Text cannot be resized without assistive technology up to 200% without losing content or functionality; g. If the content enforces a time limit, the user is not able to extend, adjust or disable it; -5- Case 1:22-cv-03148-KAM-RER Document 1 Filed 05/27/22 Page 6 of 20 PageID #: 6 h. Web pages do not have titles that describe the topic or purpose; i. The purpose of each link cannot be determined from the link text alone or from the link text and its programmatically determined link context; j. One or more keyboard operable user interface lacks a mode of operation where the keyboard focus indicator is discernible; k. The default human language of each web page cannot be programmatically determined; l. When a component receives focus, it may initiate a change in context; m. Changing the setting of a user interface component may automatically cause a change of context where the user has not been advised before using the component; n. Labels or instructions are not provided when content requires user input, which include captcha prompts that require the user to verify that he or she is not a robot; o. In content which is implemented by using markup languages, elements do not have complete start and end tags, elements are not nested according to their specifications, elements may contain duplicate attributes, and/or any IDs are not unique; p. Inaccessible Portable Document Format (PDFs); and, q. The name and role of all User Interface elements cannot be -6- Case 1:22-cv-03148-KAM-RER Document 1 Filed 05/27/22 Page 7 of 20 PageID #: 7 programmatically determined; items that can be set by the user cannot be programmatically set; and/or notification of changes to these items is not available to user agents, including assistive technology. STATEMENT OF FACTS 21. Defendant is a company that owns and operates www.kingsplazaonline.com (its “Website”), offering features which should allow all consumers to access the goods and services which Defendant offers in connection with their physical locations. The features offered by Defendant on the Website include, but are not limited to the following, which allow consumers to: find information about service locations and hours of operation, as well as information about the goods and services in its physical locations for purchase, and information about available promotions. 22. Plaintiff is a visually-impaired and legally blind person, who cannot use a computer without the assistance of screen-reading software. Plaintiff is, however, a proficient NVDA screen-reader user and uses it to access the Internet. Plaintiff has visited the Website on separate occasions using a screen-reader. 23. On multiple occasions, Plaintiff visited Defendant’s website, www.kingsplazaonline.com, to get more information about Defendant’s variety of stores and sales. Despite her efforts, however, Plaintiff was denied an experience similar to that of a sighted individual due to the Website’s lack of a variety of features and accommodations, which effectively barred Plaintiff from being able to determine what specific products and services were available for her review. 24. Many features on the Website lacks alt. text, which is the invisible code embedded beneath a graphical image. As a result, Plaintiff was unable to -7- Case 1:22-cv-03148-KAM-RER Document 1 Filed 05/27/22 Page 8 of 20 PageID #: 8 differentiate what products and services were on the screen due to the failure of the Website to adequately describe its content. 25. Interactive elements on the Website’s are not keyboard focusable and are therefore inaccessible to blind users. Such issues were predominant in the "Find a Shop" section where Plaintiff was attempting, but was unsuccessful, to find a store location. 26. Many features on the Website also fail to Add a label element or title attribute for each field. This is a problem for the visually impaired because the screen reader fails to communicate the purpose of the page element. It also leads to the user not being able to understand what he or she is expected to insert into the subject field. As a result, Plaintiff and similarly situated visually impaired users of Defendant’s Website are unable to enjoy the privileges and benefits of the Website equally to sighted users. 27. Many pages on the Website also contain the same title elements. This is a problem for the visually impaired because the screen reader fails to distinguish one page from another. In order to fix this problem, Defendant must change the title elements for each page. 28. The Website also contained a host of broken links, which is a hyperlink to a non- existent or empty webpage. For the visually impaired this is especially paralyzing due to the inability to navigate or otherwise determine where one is on the website once a broken link is encountered. For example, upon coming across a link of interest, Plaintiff was redirected to an error page. However, the screen-reader failed -8- Case 1:22-cv-03148-KAM-RER Document 1 Filed 05/27/22 Page 9 of 20 PageID #: 9 to communicate that the link was broken. As a result, Plaintiff could not get back to her original search. 29. These access barriers effectively denied Plaintiff the ability to use and enjoy Defendant’s website the same way sighted individuals do. 30. Specifically, Plaintiff was unable to learn more information about Defendant’s physical location and the services available for purchase at the location. 31. Furthermore, Plaintiff was prevented from viewing a description of the services and special promotions available on Defendant’s Website. 32. Plaintiff intends to visit the Website and Defendant's stores in the near future if she can access the Website. 33. It is, upon information and belief, Defendant’s policy and practice to deny Plaintiff, along with other blind or visually-impaired users, access to Defendant’s website, and to therefore specifically deny the goods and services that are offered to the general public. Due to Defendant’s failure and refusal to remove access barriers to its website, Plaintiff and visually-impaired persons have been and are still being denied equal access to Defendant’s Website, and the numerous goods and services and benefits offered to the public through the Website. 34. Due to the inaccessibility of Defendant’s Website, blind and visually-impaired customers such as Plaintiff, who need screen-readers, cannot fully and equally use or enjoy the facilities, products, and services Defendant offers to the public on its website. The access barriers Plaintiff encountered have caused a denial of Plaintiff’s full and equal access in the past, and now deter Plaintiff on a regular basis from equal access to the Website. -9- Case 1:22-cv-03148-KAM-RER Document 1 Filed 05/27/22 Page 10 of 20 PageID #: 10 35. If the Website were equally accessible to all, Plaintiff could independently navigate the Website as sighted individuals do. 36. Through her 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. 37. Because simple compliance with the WCAG 2.1 Guidelines would provide Plaintiff and other visually-impaired consumers with equal access to the Website, Plaintiff alleges that Defendant has engaged in acts of intentional discrimination, including but not limited to the following policies or practices: a. Constructing and maintaining a website that is inaccessible to visually-impaired individuals, including Plaintiff; b. Failure to construct and maintain a website that is sufficiently intuitive so as to be equally accessible to visually impaired individuals, including Plaintiff; and, c. Failing to take actions to correct these access barriers in the face of substantial harm and discrimination to blind and visually-impaired consumers, such as Plaintiff, as a member of a protected class. 38. Defendant therefore uses standards, criteria or methods of administration that have the effect of discriminating or perpetuating the discrimination of others, as alleged herein. 39. The ADA expressly contemplates the injunctive relief that Plaintiff seeks in this action. In relevant part, the ADA requires: In 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 . . . -10- Case 1:22-cv-03148-KAM-RER Document 1 Filed 05/27/22 Page 11 of 20 PageID #: 11 42 U.S.C. § 12188(a)(2). 40. Because Defendant’s Website has never been equally accessible, and because Defendant lacks a corporate policy that is reasonably calculated to cause its Website to become and remain accessible, Plaintiff invokes 42 U.S.C. § 12188(a)(2) and seeks a permanent injunction requiring Defendant to retain a qualified consultant acceptable to Plaintiff (“Agreed Upon Consultant”) to assist Defendant to comply with WCAG 2.1 guidelines for Defendant’s Website. Plaintiff seeks that this permanent injunction requires Defendant to cooperate with the Agreed Upon Consultant to: a. Train Defendant’s employees and agents who develop the Website on accessibility compliance under the WCAG 2.1 guidelines; b. Regularly check the accessibility of the Website under the WCAG 2.1 guidelines; c. Regularly test user accessibility by blind or vision-impaired persons to ensure that Defendant’s Website complies under the WCAG 2.1 guidelines; and, d. Develop an accessibility policy that is clearly disclosed on Defendant’s Websites, with contact information for users to report accessibility-related problems. 41. Although Defendant may currently have centralized policies regarding maintaining and operating its Website, Defendant lacks a plan and policy reasonably calculated to make them fully and equally accessible to, and independently usable by, blind and other visually-impaired consumers. -11- Case 1:22-cv-03148-KAM-RER Document 1 Filed 05/27/22 Page 12 of 20 PageID #: 12 42. Defendant has, upon information and belief, invested substantial sums in developing and maintaining their Website and has generated significant revenue from the Website. These amounts are far greater than the associated cost of making their Website equally accessible to visually impaired customers. 43. Without injunctive relief, Plaintiff and other visually-impaired consumers will continue to be unable to independently use the Website, violating their rights. CLASS ACTION ALLEGATIONS 44. Plaintiff, on behalf of herself and all others similarly situated, seeks to certify a nationwide class under Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(a) and 23(b)(2): all legally blind individuals in the United States who have attempted to access Defendant’s Website and as a result have been denied access to the equal enjoyment of goods and services, during the relevant statutory period. 45. Plaintiff, on behalf of herself and all others similarly situated, seeks to certify a New York City subclass under Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(a) and 23(b)(2): all legally blind individuals in the City of New York who have attempted to access Defendant’s Website and as a result have been denied access to the equal enjoyment of goods and services offered, during the relevant statutory period. 46. Common questions of law and fact exist amongst the Class, including: a. Whether Defendant’s Website is a “public accommodation” under the ADA; b. Whether Defendant’s Website is a “place or provider of public accommodation” under the NYCHRL; c. Whether Defendant’s Website denies the full and equal enjoyment -12- Case 1:22-cv-03148-KAM-RER Document 1 Filed 05/27/22 Page 13 of 20 PageID #: 13 of its products, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, or accommodations to people with visual disabilities, violating the ADA; and d. Whether Defendant’s Website denies the full and equal enjoyment of its products, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, or accommodations to people with visual disabilities, violating the NYCHRL. 47. Plaintiff’s claims are typical of the Class. The Class, similarly to the Plaintiff, are severely visually impaired or otherwise blind, and claim that Defendant has violated the ADA or NYCHRL by failing to update or remove access barriers on its Website so either can be independently accessible to the Class. 48. Plaintiff will fairly and adequately represent and protect the interests of the Class Members because Plaintiff has retained and is represented by counsel competent and experienced in complex class action litigation, and because Plaintiff has no interests antagonistic to the Class Members. Class certification of the claims is appropriate under 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. 49. Alternatively, class certification is appropriate under Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(b)(3) because fact and legal questions common to Class Members predominate over questions affecting only individual Class Members, and because a class action is superior to other available methods for the fair and efficient adjudication of this litigation. 50. Judicial economy will be served by maintaining this lawsuit as a class action in that it is likely to avoid the burden that would be otherwise placed upon the judicial -13- Case 1:22-cv-03148-KAM-RER Document 1 Filed 05/27/22 Page 14 of 20 PageID #: 14 system by the filing of numerous similar suits by people with visual disabilities throughout the United States. FIRST CAUSE OF ACTION VIOLATIONS OF THE ADA, 42 U.S.C. § 12182 et seq. 51. Plaintiff, on behalf of herself and the Class Members, repeats and realleges every allegation of the preceding paragraphs as if fully set forth herein. 52. Section 302(a) of Title III of the ADA, 42 U.S.C. § 12101 et seq., provides: No individual shall be discriminated against on the basis of disability in the full and equal enjoyment of the goods, services, 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). 53. Defendant’s Website is a public accommodation within the definition of Title III of the ADA, 42 U.S.C. § 12181(7). The Website is a service that is offered to the general public, and as such, must be equally accessible to all potential consumers. 54. Under Section 302(b)(1) of Title III of the ADA, it is unlawful discrimination to deny individuals with disabilities the opportunity to participate in or benefit from the products, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, or accommodations of an entity. 42 U.S.C. § 12182(b)(1)(A)(i). 55. Under Section 302(b)(1) of Title III of the ADA, it is unlawful discrimination to deny individuals with disabilities an opportunity to participate in or benefit from the products, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, or accommodation, which is equal to the opportunities afforded to other individuals. 42 U.S.C. § 12182(b)(1)(A)(ii). 56. Under Section 302(b)(2) of Title III of the ADA, unlawful discrimination also includes, among other things: -14- Case 1:22-cv-03148-KAM-RER Document 1 Filed 05/27/22 Page 15 of 20 PageID #: 15 [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 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)(ii)-(iii). 57. The acts alleged herein constitute violations of Title III of the ADA, and the regulations promulgated thereunder. Plaintiff, who is a member of a protected class of persons under the ADA, has a physical disability that substantially limits the major life activity of sight within the meaning of 42 U.S.C. §§ 12102(1)(A)-(2)(A). Furthermore, Plaintiff has been denied full and equal access to the Website, has not been provided services that are provided to other patrons who are not disabled, and has been provided services that are inferior to the services provided to non-disabled persons. Defendant has failed to take any prompt and equitable steps to remedy its discriminatory conduct. These violations are ongoing. 58. Under 42 U.S.C. § 12188 and the remedies, procedures, and rights set forth and incorporated therein, Plaintiff, requests relief as set forth below. SECOND CAUSE OF ACTION VIOLATIONS OF THE NYCHRL 59. Plaintiff, on behalf of herself and the New York City Sub-Class Members, repeats and realleges every allegation of the preceding paragraphs as if fully set forth herein. 60. N.Y.C. Administrative Code § 8-107(4)(a) provides that “It shall be an unlawful discriminatory practice for any person, being the owner, lessee, proprietor, -15- Case 1:22-cv-03148-KAM-RER Document 1 Filed 05/27/22 Page 16 of 20 PageID #: 16 manager, superintendent, agent or employee of any place or provider of public accommodation, because of . . . disability . . . directly or indirectly, to refuse, withhold from or deny to such person, any of the accommodations, advantages, facilities or privileges thereof.” 61. Defendant’s Website is a public accommodation within the definition of N.Y.C. Admin. Code § 8-102(9). 62. Defendant is subject to NYCHRL because it owns and operates its Website, making it a person within the meaning of N.Y.C. Admin. Code § 8-102(1). 63. Defendant is violating N.Y.C. Administrative Code § 8-107(4)(a) in refusing to update or remove access barriers to Website, causing its Website and the services integrated with such Website to be completely inaccessible to the blind. This inaccessibility denies blind patrons full and equal access to the facilities, products, and services that Defendant makes available to the non-disabled public. 64. Defendant is required to “make reasonable accommodation to the needs of persons with disabilities . . . any person prohibited by the provisions of [§ 8-107 et seq.] from discriminating on the basis of disability shall make reasonable accommodation to enable a person with a disability to . . . enjoy the right or rights in question provided that the disability is known or should have been known by the covered entity.” N.Y.C. Admin. Code § 8-107(15)(a). 65. Defendant’s actions constitute willful intentional discrimination against the Sub- Class on the basis of a disability in violation of the N.Y.C. Administrative Code § 8-107(4)(a) and § 8-107(15)(a) in that Defendant has: a. constructed and maintained a website that is inaccessible to blind -16- Case 1:22-cv-03148-KAM-RER Document 1 Filed 05/27/22 Page 17 of 20 PageID #: 17 class members with knowledge of the discrimination; and/or b. constructed and maintained a website that is sufficiently intuitive and/or obvious that is inaccessible to blind class members; and/or c. failed to take actions to correct these access barriers in the face of substantial harm and discrimination to blind class members. 66. Defendant has failed to take any prompt and equitable steps to remedy their discriminatory conduct. These violations are ongoing. 67. As such, Defendant discriminates, and will continue in the future to discriminate against Plaintiff and members of the proposed class and subclass on the basis of disability in the full and equal enjoyment of the products, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, accommodations and/or opportunities of its Website under § 8-107(4)(a) and/or its implementing regulations. Unless the Court enjoins Defendant from continuing to engage in these unlawful practices, Plaintiff and members of the class will continue to suffer irreparable harm. 68. Defendant’s actions were and are in violation of the NYCHRL and therefore Plaintiff invokes her right to injunctive relief to remedy the discrimination. 69. Plaintiff is also entitled to compensatory damages, as well as civil penalties and fines under N.Y.C. Administrative Code § 8-120(8) and § 8-126(a) for each offense as well as punitive damages pursuant to § 8-502. 70. Plaintiff is also entitled to reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs. 71. Under N.Y.C. Administrative Code § 8-120 and § 8-126 and the remedies, procedures, and rights set forth and incorporated therein Plaintiff prays for judgment as set forth below. -17- Case 1:22-cv-03148-KAM-RER Document 1 Filed 05/27/22 Page 18 of 20 PageID #: 18 THIRD CAUSE OF ACTION DECLARATORY RELIEF 72. Plaintiff, on behalf of herself and the Class and New York City Sub-Classes Members, repeats and realleges every allegation of the preceding paragraphs as if fully set forth herein. 73. An actual controversy has arisen and now exists between the parties in that Plaintiff contends, and is informed and believes that Defendant denies, that its Website contains access barriers denying blind customers the full and equal access to the products, services and facilities of its Website, which Defendant owns, operates and controls, fails to comply with applicable laws including, but not limited to, Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 12182, et seq., and N.Y.C. Admin. Code § 8-107, et seq. prohibiting discrimination against the blind. 74. A judicial declaration is necessary and appropriate at this time in order that each of the parties may know their respective rights and duties and act accordingly. PRAYER FOR RELIEF WHEREFORE, Plaintiff respectfully requests this Court grant the following relief: a. A preliminary and permanent injunction to prohibit Defendant from violating the Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 12182, et seq., N.Y.C. Administrative Code § 8-107, et seq., and the laws of New York; b. A preliminary and permanent injunction requiring Defendant to take all the steps necessary to make its Website fully compliant with the requirements set forth in the ADA, and its implementing regulations, so that the Website is readily accessible to and usable by blind individuals; c. A declaration that Defendant owns, maintains and/or operates its -18- Case 1:22-cv-03148-KAM-RER Document 1 Filed 05/27/22 Page 19 of 20 PageID #: 19 Website in a manner that discriminates against the blind and which fails to provide access for persons with disabilities as required by Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 12182, et seq., N.Y.C. Administrative Code § 8-107, et seq., and the laws of New York d. An order certifying the Class and Sub-Classes under Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(a) & (b)(2) and/or (b)(3), appointing Plaintiff as Class Representative, and her attorneys as Class Counsel; e. Compensatory damages in an amount to be determined by proof, including all applicable statutory and punitive damages and fines, to Plaintiff and the proposed class and subclasses for violations of their civil rights under New York City Human Rights Law and City Law; f. Pre- and post-judgment interest; g. An award of costs and expenses of this action together with reasonable attorneys’ and expert fees; and h. Such other and further relief as this Court deems just and proper. DEMAND FOR TRIAL BY JURY Pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 38(b), Plaintiff demands a trial by jury on all questions of fact the Complaint raises. Dated: Hackensack, New Jersey May 27, 2022 STEIN SAKS, PLLC By: /s/ Mark Rozenberg Mark Rozenberg, Esq. mrozenberg@steinsakslegal.com One University Plaza, Suite 620 Hackensack, NJ 07601 Tel: (201) 282-6500 -19- Case 1:22-cv-03148-KAM-RER Document 1 Filed 05/27/22 Page 20 of 20 PageID #: 20 Fax: (201) 282-6501 ATTORNEYS FOR PLAINTIFF -20-