Edible Arrangements, Black Rifle Coffee, Medifast Hit With ADA Class Action Lawsuits

A trio of companies has been hit with claims they failed to make accommodations for customers with disabilities in separate ADA class action lawsuits.

Two plaintiffs, who say they are legally blind, claim the Black Rifle Coffee Company and Medifast failed to construct websites using easily obtained technology that would allow the use of screen readers. Another ADA class action lawsuit filed against Edible Arrangements alleges that the company’s physical locations are not accessible to customers in wheelchairs.

Top Class Actions reports on lawsuits filed when consumers feel they have been wronged. We’ll follow the cases and let you know if any settlements are reached and if compensation is involved.

ADA Requires Accessible Websites

A pair of plaintiffs who are visually impaired have filed separate class action lawsuits against the Black Rifle Coffee Company and Medifast alleging that the companies’ websites deny millions of Americans access to services because they are not compatible with screen reading technology. The ADA class action lawsuits contend that the failure of these companies to maintain accessible websites is a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act, as well as New York Human Rights Law.

Each complaint points out that, per the 2010 census, more than 8.1 million people in the United States reported a visual impairment. In their respective complaints, the plaintiffs say they are acting as “testers” to see if they can assert their “civil rights and monitoring, ensuring, and determining whether places of public accommodation and/or their websites are in compliance with the ADA.”

Both companies named in the complaints run websites, Blackriflecoffee.com and Medifast1.com, that allegedly contain thousands of access barriers that make it next to impossible for customers with visual impairments to use the sites.

The complaints contend that each website “excludes the blind and visually-impaired from the full and equal participation in the growing Internet economy that is increasingly a fundamental part of the common marketplace and daily living.”

Indeed, screen reading technology that allows those with visual impairments to effectively use the internet has become more common and advanced in recent years, points out each class action lawsuit. However, despite these advances, Medifast and Black Rifle have chosen to rely on solely visual interfaces.

These ADA class action lawsuits are seeking a court order requiring Medifast and Black Rifle to utilize technology that would allow those with visual disabilities to use screen readers.

New York Edible Arrangements Inaccessible to Wheelchairs

Another plaintiff has filed a complaint against Edible Arrangements, alleging a New York location does not meet accessibility requirements for wheelchair access under the federal law. The plaintiff claims that, in addition to violating the ADA, the company is also in violation of New York Human Rights Law as well.

According to the complaint, the location requires customers to navigate multiple steps to even get into the store. Once they are in the store, the plaintiff says that many of the products are on high shelves and even the sales counter is too high for those in wheelchairs.

In addition to injunctive relief requiring the defendants in the ADA class action lawsuits ensure the companies’ services are accessible, the plaintiffs are also seeking fines under state and federal law that can amount to thousands or even hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Have you run into accessibility issues at these companies or any others? We want to hear about your experience. Tell us in the comment section below!

The lead plaintiffs in the Black Rifle Coffee and Medifast class action lawsuits are represented by Dan Shaked of Shaked Law Group, PC.

The Black Rifle Coffee ADA Class Action Lawsuit is Rodriguez v. Black Rifle Coffee Company, LLC., Case No. 21-cv-260 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York.

The Medifast ADA Class Action Lawsuit is Conner v. Medifast, Inc., Case No. 21-cv-261 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York.

The lead plaintiff in the Edible Arrangements class action lawsuit is represented by B. Bradley Weitz of The Weitz Law Firm PA.

The Edible Arrangements Class Action Lawsuit is Vuppala v. Edible Arrangements LLC, et al., Case No. 1:21-cv-427 in U.S. District Court Southern District of New York.

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• Capillus Class Action Says Website Violates ADA
• MIT Website ADA Class Action Settlement