Leah Walker, a visually-impaired resident of Illinois, has filed a class-action lawsuit against PlushBeds, Inc., alleging that the company's website is inaccessible to blind and visually-impaired users. The complaint was filed on February 6, 2025, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Walker claims that PlushBeds' failure to provide an accessible website violates the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), denying her and others like her equal access to the goods and services offered by PlushBeds.
Walker relies on screen-reading software to navigate websites but encountered significant barriers when attempting to use PlushBeds' site. She describes issues such as missing alternative text for images, improper heading structures, and elements requiring mouse interaction, which prevent blind users from independently accessing the site. These barriers hindered Walker's attempt to purchase a mattress topper from PlushBeds.com. "Despite readily available accessible technology," Walker states in her complaint, "Defendant has chosen to rely on an exclusively visual interface."
The lawsuit argues that PlushBeds' actions constitute discrimination under both state and federal law. It highlights that Congress mandated the elimination of discrimination against individuals with disabilities through the ADA, which includes ensuring web accessibility. Walker seeks a permanent injunction requiring PlushBeds to make its website fully accessible and compliant with established guidelines like WCAG 2.2. Additionally, she requests compensatory damages for herself and other class members who have faced similar discrimination.
Walker is represented by attorney David Reyes of Asher Cohen Law PLLC. The case has been assigned Case No.: 1:25-cv-1283 in front of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.