A visually-impaired individual has taken legal action against a tech retailer for allegedly failing to make its website accessible to blind users. Haron Cole filed a class-action complaint on February 28, 2025, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois against Sariana, LLC. The lawsuit accuses Sariana of violating the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by not providing an accessible online shopping experience on their website, Satechi.net.
Haron Cole, who is legally blind and relies on screen-reading software to navigate websites, claims that Sariana's website is riddled with accessibility barriers that prevent him and others from independently accessing and purchasing products. According to the complaint, these barriers include a lack of alternative text for images, improperly formatted lists, ambiguous link texts, and interactive elements that are not keyboard-navigable. "The lack of an accessible website means that blind people are excluded from experiencing transacting with Defendant’s website," states the complaint.
Cole 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 incorporate readily available web accessibility guidelines discriminates against visually impaired individuals by denying them equal access to goods and services offered online. The plaintiff asserts that this exclusion violates Title III of the ADA, which mandates full and equal enjoyment of public accommodations for individuals with disabilities.
The lawsuit seeks several forms of relief from the court. It requests a permanent injunction requiring Sariana to modify its website policies and practices to ensure compliance with ADA standards for web accessibility. Additionally, Cole seeks compensatory damages for himself and other class members who have faced discrimination due to these access barriers. The complaint also calls for punitive damages and reimbursement of legal fees incurred during the litigation process.
Representing Haron Cole in this case is David B. Reyes from Equal Access Law Group, PLLC. The case has been assigned Case No.: 1:25-cv-2092 in front of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.