A visually-impaired man has taken legal action against a major cosmetics company, alleging that its website is inaccessible to blind and visually-impaired individuals. James Murphy filed the complaint on January 5, 2026, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York against Giovanni Cosmetics, Inc. The lawsuit highlights a critical issue of digital accessibility and seeks to enforce compliance with established disability rights laws.
James Murphy, who is legally blind and relies on screen-reading software to navigate websites, accuses Giovanni Cosmetics of failing to make its website accessible. According to Murphy, this lack of accessibility denies him and others like him full and equal access to the company’s products and services, which he argues is a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). “Inaccessible web content means that people with disabilities are denied equal access to information,” states the complaint, emphasizing that such exclusion increases isolation among disabled individuals. The plaintiff points out that despite well-established guidelines for web accessibility published by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), Giovanni Cosmetics’ website remains non-compliant.
Murphy’s legal team argues that the company’s failure to provide an accessible website amounts to intentional discrimination under several statutes including Title III of the ADA, New York State Human Rights Law (NYSHRL), New York City Human Rights Law (NYCHRL), and New York State General Business Law § 349. They assert that Giovanni Cosmetics has not made reasonable modifications necessary for accommodating visually-impaired users. As part of his demands, Murphy seeks a permanent injunction requiring Giovanni Cosmetics to overhaul its corporate policies and website design to comply with accessibility standards. He also requests compensatory damages for himself and other similarly affected individuals.
The case brings attention to broader issues surrounding digital accessibility in today’s technology-driven world. It underscores how critical it is for companies operating online platforms to ensure their digital spaces are inclusive for all users, including those with disabilities. The plaintiff’s demands include hiring a qualified consultant to improve website accessibility, conducting regular audits and user testing by visually-impaired individuals, creating a public policy statement on web accessibility efforts, and training customer service personnel to assist users facing difficulties due to these barriers.
Representing James Murphy are attorneys Michael A. LaBollita, Jeffrey M. Gottlieb, and Dana L. Gottlieb from Gottlieb & Associates PLLC based in New York City. The case is identified as Case No: 126-cv-92 in front of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.
Source: 126cv00092_James_Murphy_v_Giovanni_Cosmetics_Complaint_Southern_District_of_New_York.pdf
