A visually-impaired individual has taken legal action against a tech company, alleging its website is inaccessible to blind users. Haron Cole filed a class-action complaint in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on February 28, 2025, against Sariana, LLC. The lawsuit claims that Sariana's website, Satechi.net, violates the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by not being accessible to individuals who are blind or visually impaired.
Haron Cole, a resident of Lake County, Illinois, who is legally blind and requires screen-reading software to access digital content, represents himself and others similarly affected in this case. According to the complaint, Sariana's website fails to provide equal access to goods and services offered online due to significant accessibility barriers. These barriers include lack of alternative text for images, improperly formatted lists and headings, ambiguous link texts, and reliance on mouse navigation which is not compatible with screen readers used by blind individuals. The plaintiff attempted to purchase a wireless charger from Satechi.net but was unable to complete the transaction due to these accessibility issues.
The lawsuit argues that Sariana's failure to make its website accessible denies visually impaired customers equal participation in the digital marketplace. The complaint highlights that accessible technology is readily available and widely implemented by other businesses. It accuses Sariana of intentional discrimination under Title III of the ADA by maintaining an inaccessible website despite knowing its discriminatory impact on blind users. Cole seeks a permanent injunction requiring Sariana to modify its website policies and practices to ensure accessibility for all users. Additionally, he demands compensatory damages for unlawful discrimination experienced by class members.
Cole's legal representation comes from Equal Access Law Group PLLC with attorney David B. Reyes leading the case. The case ID is 1:25-cv-02092 and it will be presided over in the Northern District of Illinois court.