Kohl’s class action claims website not equally accessible to blind, visually impaired consumers

Kohl’s website class action lawsuit overview: 

• Who: Sumaya Hussein filed a class action lawsuit against Kohl’s Inc. 
• Why: Hussein claims Kohl’s is in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act by allegedly failing to make its website fully accessible to and independently usable by individuals who are blind or visually impaired. 
• Where: The class action lawsuit was filed in Illinois federal court. 

Kohl’s failed to make its website fully accessible to and independently usable by individuals who are blind or visually impaired, as required by law, a new class action lawsuit alleges. 

Plaintiff Sumaya Hussein, a blind woman, claims Kohl’s website contains access barriers to screen-reading software used by individuals who are blind or visually impaired to access the internet. 

Hussein argues these alleged website access barriers deny individuals who are blind or visually impaired from equal access to the goods and services offered on it, in an alleged violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). 

“Because Defendant’s website, www.kohls.com … is not equally accessible to blind and visually impaired consumers, it violates the ADA,” the Kohl’s class action states. 

Hussein wants to represent a nationwide class of legally blind individuals who attempted to go on Kohl’s website and were subsequently denied equal access to the enjoyment of goods and services. 

Kohl’s website contains access barriers such as missing alt-text, broken links, says class action

Hussein argues Kohl’s website contains access barriers such as missing alt-text, unannounced pop ups, incorrectly formatted lists, hidden elements on web pages and broken links, among other things. 

Kohl’s, meanwhile, refuses to remove the alleged access barriers on its website, preventing Hussein and others who are blind or visually impaired from equal access to this day, the Kohl’s class action alleges. 

“These access barriers effectively denied Plaintiff the ability to use and enjoy Defendant’s website the same way sighted individuals do,” the Kohl’s class action states.

The plaintiff is demanding a jury trial and requesting declaratory and injunctive relief along with an award of nominal damages for herself and all class members. 

A separate class action lawsuit was filed against Kohl’s in October by a consumer arguing the company falsely inflates comparison prices to mislead customers into believing they are getting a larger discount than they actually are. 

Have you been denied equal access to the enjoyment of goods and services on Kohl’s website? Let us know in the comments.

The plaintiff is represented by Yaakov Saks of Stein Saks PLLC. 

The Kohl’s website class action lawsuit is Hussein v. Kohl’s Inc., Case No. 1:23-cv-16393, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

Read About More Class Action Lawsuits & Class Action Settlements:

• Ace Hardware class action claims website not accessible to blind, visually impaired
• Target class action claims website not equally accessible to blind, low-vision customers
• Ex-NFL players’ lawsuit claims disability benefit plans use race-norming
• Stanley Steemer class action claims website inaccessible to blind, visually impaired visitors