A visually-impaired individual has filed a class action lawsuit against a well-known boot company, alleging that its website is inaccessible to blind and visually-impaired users. Andre Battle, the plaintiff, lodged the complaint in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on January 17, 2025, targeting Dan Post Boot Company. The suit accuses the company of violating the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by failing to make its website accessible to individuals who rely on screen-reading software.
Andre Battle, a resident of Cook County, Illinois, is legally blind and requires screen-reading software to access online content. According to Battle's complaint, Dan Post Boot Company's website, danpostboots.com, lacks essential accessibility features such as alternative text for images and keyboard navigability. These deficiencies prevent blind users from independently browsing and making purchases on the site. "Dan Post Boot excludes the blind and visually-impaired from full and equal participation in the growing Internet economy," states Battle in his complaint.
The lawsuit highlights that approximately 8.1 million people in the United States are visually impaired, including two million who are blind. In Illinois alone, around 400,000 individuals face similar challenges. Despite readily available technology that could make websites accessible—such as alternative text and keyboard-friendly navigation—Dan Post Boot has not implemented these solutions on its site. As a result, Battle claims he was unable to complete an online purchase due to these barriers.
Battle seeks a permanent injunction requiring Dan Post Boot Company to modify its website policies and practices to comply with ADA standards. He also requests compensatory damages for himself and other class members who have faced discrimination due to the website's inaccessibility. The lawsuit calls for Dan Post Boot Company to align its website with established guidelines like WCAG 2.2 (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines), which many businesses follow to ensure their sites are accessible.
The case is being handled by attorney Uri Horowitz from Flushing, New York. The case ID is 1:25-cv-580 but does not list any specific judges presiding over it at this time.