Comments on: Website to be taken to court in the States http://www.rnib.org.uk/wacblog/news/website-successfully-sued-in-the-states/ Thu, 4 Dec 2008 20:05:38 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Geoff Vines http://www.rnib.org.uk/wacblog/news/website-successfully-sued-in-the-states/#comment-1698 Geoff Vines Thu, 05 Oct 2006 16:23:46 +0000 http://www.rnib.org.uk/wacblog/general/website-successfully-sued-in-the-states/#comment-1698 As a developer of web sites, I can't wait for a high profile case to be brought to court in this country - and proven. It would make my life of trying to get people to replace/update their rubbish sites a whole lot easier. As a developer of web sites, I can’t wait for a high profile case to be brought to court in this country - and proven.

It would make my life of trying to get people to replace/update their rubbish sites a whole lot easier.

]]> By: Kevin Lewis http://www.rnib.org.uk/wacblog/news/website-successfully-sued-in-the-states/#comment-1556 Kevin Lewis Thu, 28 Sep 2006 14:43:44 +0000 http://www.rnib.org.uk/wacblog/general/website-successfully-sued-in-the-states/#comment-1556 The best write-up of this that I've found is at Out-Law http://www.out-law.com/page-7285 It makes the point that the lawsuit is not about being able to buy goods and services over the web but rather it is about the website denying access to services that can be obtained at the physical premises. The actions on the website that are being cited as impossible are using the store locator, finding opening times and ordering repeat prescriptions, all of which are actions that would lead to visit to the local store. The best write-up of this that I’ve found is at Out-Law
http://www.out-law.com/page-7285

It makes the point that the lawsuit is not about being able to buy goods and services over the web but rather it is about the website denying access to services that can be obtained at the physical premises. The actions on the website that are being cited as impossible are using the store locator, finding opening times and ordering repeat prescriptions, all of which are actions that would lead to visit to the local store.

]]> By: Joe Clark http://www.rnib.org.uk/wacblog/news/website-successfully-sued-in-the-states/#comment-1428 Joe Clark Sun, 24 Sep 2006 19:19:40 +0000 http://www.rnib.org.uk/wacblog/general/website-successfully-sued-in-the-states/#comment-1428 I believe you mean Americans with Disabilities Act. The judge merely refused to rule Web sites <em>out</em> of the purview of that law. They were not actively read <em>into</em> the scope of the ADA. I believe you mean Americans with Disabilities Act. The judge merely refused to rule Web sites out of the purview of that law. They were not actively read into the scope of the ADA.

]]> By: George http://www.rnib.org.uk/wacblog/news/website-successfully-sued-in-the-states/#comment-1323 George Wed, 20 Sep 2006 10:14:56 +0000 http://www.rnib.org.uk/wacblog/general/website-successfully-sued-in-the-states/#comment-1323 This is one to watch though. In the UK I feel that the DDA is acceptable as theory but as it has never been tested it is sadly ignored by many corporates. Let's hope this starts a more positive approach to enabling digital access. This is one to watch though. In the UK I feel that the DDA is acceptable as theory but as it has never been tested it is sadly ignored by many corporates. Let’s hope this starts a more positive approach to enabling digital access.

]]> By: Henny http://www.rnib.org.uk/wacblog/news/website-successfully-sued-in-the-states/#comment-1070 Henny Mon, 11 Sep 2006 08:21:02 +0000 http://www.rnib.org.uk/wacblog/general/website-successfully-sued-in-the-states/#comment-1070 Hi Isofarro, I think the writer of the original Press Release did get a bit carried away. What has happened is that a federal district court judge has ruled that a retailer may be sued if its website is inaccessible to the blind. Further clarification and discussion can be found at on the WebAim blog at http://webaim.org/blog/2006/09/08/target_lawsuit/ Hi Isofarro,

I think the writer of the original Press Release did get a bit carried away. What has happened is that a federal district court judge has ruled that a retailer may be sued if its website is inaccessible to the blind. Further clarification and discussion can be found at on the WebAim blog at http://webaim.org/blog/2006/09/08/target_lawsuit/

]]> By: Isofarro http://www.rnib.org.uk/wacblog/news/website-successfully-sued-in-the-states/#comment-1065 Isofarro Sun, 10 Sep 2006 19:56:05 +0000 http://www.rnib.org.uk/wacblog/general/website-successfully-sued-in-the-states/#comment-1065 Unfortunately, looks like the writer of the original press release got a bit carried away - there's no legal precedent been set yet, and the Target case is a long way to completion. What has happened so far is that Target's motion to dismiss, which was based on their argument that websites are not public accommodations under ADA, was rejected. This decision allows the plaintiffs to proceed with their case against Target. It is now an open question whether inaccessible websites are actionable under ADA - both sides have a chance of arguing their respective positions. Unfortunately, looks like the writer of the original press release got a bit carried away - there’s no legal precedent been set yet, and the Target case is a long way to completion.

What has happened so far is that Target’s motion to dismiss, which was based on their argument that websites are not public accommodations under ADA, was rejected. This decision allows the plaintiffs to proceed with their case against Target. It is now an open question whether inaccessible websites are actionable under ADA - both sides have a chance of arguing their respective positions.

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