In a groundbreaking legal move, a visually-impaired individual has taken on a major online ticketing platform for allegedly failing to provide accessible services to blind and visually-impaired users. Tammy Hampton filed a class action complaint against Ticketsales.com, LLC in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on February 24, 2025. The lawsuit claims that the company's website is not fully accessible to those who rely on screen-reading software, thus violating the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Hampton, who is legally blind and resides in Will County, Illinois, asserts that she and others like her are denied equal access to Ticketsales.com's services due to significant barriers on their website. According to the complaint, these barriers include inadequate focus order, inaccessible drop-down menus, and improperly labeled form fields which prevent visually-impaired users from completing transactions independently. "The lack of an accessible website means that blind people are excluded from experiencing transacting with Defendant’s website," states the complaint.
The plaintiff's attempts to purchase tickets were thwarted by these accessibility issues. On September 11, 2024, Hampton tried to buy tickets for a circus performance but encountered several obstacles that made it impossible for her to complete the transaction without assistance. The lawsuit accuses Ticketsales.com of intentional discrimination by maintaining a website that is inaccessible despite available technology that could make it compliant with accessibility standards such as WCAG 2.2.
Hampton seeks a permanent injunction requiring Ticketsales.com to make its website fully accessible and usable by blind individuals. Additionally, she demands compensatory damages for herself and other class members who have faced similar discrimination. The case also calls for punitive damages and attorney fees as part of the relief sought.
Representing Hampton is David B. Reyes from Equal Access Law Group PLLC. The case has been assigned Case No.: 1:25-cv-1900 in front of judges at the Northern District of Illinois court.