Amsoil class action alleges website denies disabled customers equal access to goods, services

Amsoil class action lawsuit overview:

• Who: Plaintiff Janelys Hernandez filed a lawsuit against Amsoil Inc.
• Why: The Amsoil website is allegedly not fully accessible to blind and visually-impaired individuals.
• Where: The Amsoil class action lawsuit was filed in New York federal court.
• What are my options: Consumers looking for alternatives to Amsoil should visit Advance Auto Parts.

The Amsoil website is not fully accessible to blind and visually-impaired people, denying them equal access to goods and services, a class action lawsuit alleges.

Plaintiff Janelys Hernandez says she is legally blind and requires screen-reading software to access website content on her computer. She says she attempted to purchase transmission fluid from the Amsoil website but was unable to independently complete the transaction due to accessibility issues.

For screen-reading software to work effectively, the website content must be capable of being rendered into text, the Amsoil class action lawsuit explains.

Hernandez alleges the Amsoil website contains ambiguous link texts, inaccurate heading structure, and ambiguous labels for interactive elements that make it difficult to access the website and complete the purchase process.

Because the Amsoil website is not equally accessible to visually-impaired consumers, Hernandez says it violates the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). 

Title III of the ADA states: “No individual should 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,” the Amsoil class action explains.

Amsoil class action says company fails to use readily-available accessible technology in violation of ADA

Hernandez points to a 2010 U.S. Census report indicating that there are more than 8 million visually-impaired Americans. She says that blind individuals have a greater need to conduct transactions online because of their mobility challenges.

The Amsoil class action lawsuit notes that other websites utilize readily-available accessible technology that makes it possible for visually-impaired individuals to independently complete transactions.

“By failing to make the website accessible to blind persons, defendant is violating basic equal access requirements under both state and federal law,” the Amsoil class action lawsuit asserts.

Hernandez is seeking a permanent injunction prohibiting Amsoil from violating the ADA and requiring it to make the Amsoil website compliant with the ADA so that it will be readily accessible to blind individuals.

Notre Dame College was also recently hit with a class action lawsuit alleging its website is inaccessible to visually-impaired individuals.

Have you had issues accessing the Amsoil website? Tell us about your experience in the comments!

Hernandez is represented by Noor A. Saab of The Law Office of Noor A. Saab Esq.

The Amsoil website class action lawsuit is Janelys Hernandez v. Amsoil Inc., Case No. 1:23-cv-02649, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.

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