A visually-impaired woman has taken legal action against a well-known online retailer, claiming that its website is inaccessible to blind and visually-impaired individuals. On February 20, 2026, Judith Adela Lopez filed a class-action complaint in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York against Amanda Frances Inc., alleging violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other state laws.
Lopez, who requires screen-reading software to access web content, argues that Amanda Frances Inc. has failed to design and maintain its website in a manner that is accessible to visually-impaired users. The lawsuit highlights the challenges faced by approximately 8.1 million visually-impaired individuals in the United States, including 400,000 residing in New York State alone. Lopez’s complaint references a letter from U.S. Department of Justice Assistant Attorney General Stephen E. Boyd, which emphasizes that public accommodations must ensure their websites are accessible to individuals with disabilities.
The complaint accuses Amanda Frances Inc. of denying full and equal access to its website and thereby its products and services, violating Title III of the ADA. The plaintiff claims that the website’s lack of compatibility with screen-reader programs deprives blind users of the benefits available to sighted individuals, increasing their sense of isolation and stigma—a situation Title III aims to address. Furthermore, Lopez contends that this exclusionary practice violates New York State Human Rights Law (NYSHRL), New York City Human Rights Law (NYCHRL), and New York State General Business Law § 349 (GBL).
Lopez seeks a permanent injunction requiring Amanda Frances Inc. to implement changes ensuring its website is accessible to blind consumers. She demands compliance with established web accessibility guidelines such as WCAG 2.0, training for employees involved in web development on accessibility standards, regular audits by qualified consultants, and end-user testing involving visually-impaired individuals.
The lawsuit also requests compensatory damages for Lopez and other affected class members due to alleged discrimination under NYSHRL and NYCHRL provisions. Additionally, it seeks punitive damages under GBL § 349 for deceptive practices resulting from barriers preventing full product information access.
Representing Lopez are attorneys Michael A. LaBollita, Jeffrey M. Gottlieb, and Dana L. Gottlieb from Gottlieb & Associates PLLC based in New York City. The case is presided over by an unnamed judge under Case ID 1:26-cv-01471.
Source: 126cv01471_Judith_Adela_v_Amanda_Frances_Complaint_Southern_District_of_New_York.pdf
