Nonprofit sues Ace Hardware Corp. claiming failure to comply with disability
regulations
Carrie Bradon
Dec. 23, 2015, 11:27am
PITTSBURGH - A not-for-profit organization is suing Ace Hardware alleging that
the company failed to comply with certain Americans with Disabilities Act
standards for Internet sites.
Access Now Inc., Michelle Sipe, Jill Gross and R. David New filed a complaint
on Dec. 10 in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania
against Ace Hardware Corp., alleging that the website is not accessible to
visually impaired or blind people and is in violation of the ADA.
According to the complaint, Sipe, Gross and New are all individuals who suffer
from visual impairment. Because of this disability, they are not able to use
standard Internet sites and instead must rely on the versions of the websites
which can be read by their computers using screen-reading software, which make
it possible for blind individuals to read printed information, the complaint
states. They allege that Ace Hardware's website was not designed with the
accommodations necessary for visually impaired individuals, and because of this
the plaintiffs are suing the corporation.
The plaintiffs seek compensation for all legal fees and damages suffered. They
are represented by R. Bruce Carlson, Benjamin J. Sweet and Stephanie K. Goldin
of Carlson, Lynch, Sweet and Kilpela LLP in Pittsburgh.
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania Case number
2:15-CV-01626
Organizations in this story
ACE Hardware Corp.2200 Kensington CtOak Brook, IL 60523
Access Now Inc2821 Emerywood ParkwayRichmond, VA 23294
Carlson, Lynch, Sweet and Kilpella LLP1133 Penn AvenuePittsburgh, PA 15222
http://pennrecord.com/stories/510652975-nonprofit-sues-ace-hardware-corp-claiming-failure-to-comply-with-disability-regulations
