ADA WEBSITE ACCESSIBILITY LAWSUITS AUGUST 2024 REPORT
ADA website Lawsuits filed in August 2024
88
ADA website lawsuits filed against websites using Shopify
22.22%
Lawsuits filed against accessibility widget installed
Summary
In August 2024, ADA website accessibility litigation saw a significant spike, with 270 lawsuits filed, compared to 247 cases the month prior. A notable 88 of the total cases targeted websites using the e-commerce platform Shopify, and 22.22% involved sites with accessibility widgets.
The month of August also featured a diverse group of plaintiffs, with 73 individuals collectively filing these cases. 15 plaintiffs were responsible for about 51% of filings, with plaintiff Carlton Knowles of Gottlieb & Associates, contributing the most cases (12) in August. Overall, Victor Ariza emerged as the most prolific, with 81 lawsuits filed from January to August 2024.
Additionally, the top 10 law firms accounted for 80% of the lawsuits, with Gottlieb & Associates leading the charge by filing 60 cases in August. The highest number filed by a single firm in a single month so far this year. From January through August Gottlieb & Associates have filed 203 lawsuits.
Geographically, New York emerged as the focal point for ADA litigation, with 122 cases, followed by Florida (56), California (38), and Pennsylvania (2), alongside 52 ADA-related cases dispersed across other states.
This upsurge in ADA website lawsuits underscores the imperative need for a heightened focus on digital accessibility across the country. This is especially the case for several industries, including Lifestyle, Fashion, Clothing & Apparel (83 cases) and Restaurant, Food, Drinks & Beverages (75), among others.
Total Federal and State Court ADA Website Lawsuit for August 2024
Bar graph shows cases by state, New York 122, California 38, Florida 56, Pennsylvania 2, Other states 52.
15 Plaintiffs Filed Over 50% ADA Lawsuits in August 2024
| Sr. No: | Plaintiff Name | Plaintiff Firm Name | Number of Cases in August | Percentage | Jan to Aug |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carlton Knowles | Gottlieb & Associates | 12 | 4.44% | 21 |
| 2 | Leshawn Young | Gottlieb & Associates | 12 | 4.44% | 19 |
| 3 | Julie Dalton | Throndset Michenfelder Law Office, LLC | 11 | 4.07% | 47 |
| 4 | Victor Ariza | Roderick V. Hannah, Esq., P.A. | 10 | 3.70% | 81 |
| 5 | Windy Lucius | J. Courtney Cunningham, PLLC | 10 | 3.70% | 23 |
| 6 | Marcos Calcano | Gottlieb & Associates | 10 | 3.70% | 18 |
| 7 | Enrique Alvear | Roderick V. Hannah, Esq., P.A. | 10 | 3.70% | 18 |
| 8 | Nelson Fernandez | Roderick V. Hannah, Esq., P.A. | 9 | 3.33% | 61 |
| 9 | Jennifer Carbine | Manning Law, APC | 9 | 3.33% | 29 |
| 10 | Edery Herrera | Gottlieb & Associates | 9 | 3.33% | 14 |
| 11 | Juan Igartua | Jon L. Norinsberg, Esq., PLLC | 9 | 3.33% | 9 |
| 12 | Luis Licea | Pacific Trial Attorneys, APC | 8 | 2.96% | 37 |
| 13 | Robert Glen Myers | ADA Legal Team, LLC | 7 | 2.59% | 7 |
| 14 | Arantza Castro | Mendez Law Offices, PLLC | 6 | 2.22% | 24 |
| 15 | Cedric Bishop | Gottlieb & Associates | 6 | 2.22% | 6 |
| 15 Plaintiffs Filed 51.11% ADA Lawsuits in August-2024 | 138 | 51.11% | 414 | ||
| 58 Plaintiffs Collectively Filed 48.89% ADA Lawsuits in August-2024 | 132 | 48.89% | 1,582 | ||
| 73 Plaintiffs Filed 270 Website ADA Lawsuits in August-2024 | 270 | 100% | 1,996 | ||
Key Summary Points:
- In August 2024, 15 plaintiffs were responsible for 51.11% of all cases filed. Altogether, a total of 73 plaintiffs collectively filed 270 cases that month.
- Plaintiff Carlton Knowles filed 12 cases in August, bringing the total cases filed by the plaintiff year-to-date to 21.
- By far, plaintiff Victor Ariza filed the most ADA website lawsuits this year, with 81 cases from January to August 2024.
Top 5 Plaintiffs
Lawsuits: 55
Percentage: 20.37
Top 10 Plaintiffs
Lawsuits: 102
Percentage: 37.78%
Top 20 Plaintiffs
Lawsuits: 160
Percentage: 59.26%
Top 50 Plaintiffs
Lawsuits: 243
Percentage: 90.00%
10 Law Firms Filed Over 80% of ADA Lawsuits in August 2024
| Sr. No: | Plaintiff Firm Name | Number of Cases in August | Percentage | Jan to Aug |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gottlieb & Associates | 60 | 22.22% | 203 |
| 2 | Roderick V. Hannah, Esq., P.A. | 30 | 11.11% | 198 |
| 3 | Stein Saks, PLLC | 29 | 10.74% | 315 |
| 4 | NYE Stirling, Hale & Miller, LLP | 22 | 8.15% | 93 |
| 5 | Manning Law, APC | 20 | 7.41% | 149 |
| 6 | J. Courtney Cunningham, PLLC | 14 | 5.19% | 35 |
| 7 | Pacific Trial Attorneys, APC | 13 | 4.81% | 129 |
| 8 | Throndset Michenfelder Law Office, LLC | 12 | 4.44% | 67 |
| 9 | Mendez Law Offices, PLLC | 9 | 3.33% | 95 |
| 10 | Asher Cohen PLLC | 9 | 3.33% | 11 |
| 1010 Law Firms Filed 80.74% ADA Lawsuits in August-2024 | 218 | 80.74% | 1,295 | |
| 13 Law Firms Filed 19.26% ADA Lawsuits in August-2024 | 45 | 19.26% | 701 | |
| 23 Law Firms Collectively Filed 270 Lawsuits in August-2024 | 270 | 100% | 1,996 | |
Key Summary Points:
- The top 10 law firms accounted for 80.74% of ADA lawsuits in August 2024, filing a total of 218 lawsuits.
- Gottlieb & Associates filed a staggering 60 lawsuits, pointing to heightened litigation from this firm this month. This is the highest number of ADA lawsuits filed by a single firm in a single month so far this year.
- In total, 23 law firms collectively represented 270 lawsuits in the month of August.
- Stein Saks, PLLC is leading with a total of 315 ADA website lawsuits filed so far this year..
Top 5 plaintiff Firms
Lawsuits: 161
Percentage: 59.63%
Top 10 plaintiff Firms
Lawsuits: 218
Percentage: 80.74%
Top 15 plaintiff Firms
Lawsuits: 252
Percentage: 93.33%
Industries Affected by Website Accessibility Lawsuits in August 2024
| Sr. No: | Industry Category | Number of Cases in August | Percentage | Jan to Aug |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lifestyle, Fashion, Clothing & Apparel | 83 | 30.74% | 688 |
| 2 | Restaurant, Food, Drinks & Beverages | 75 | 27.78% | 418 |
| 3 | Beauty, Skin & Body Care | 17 | 6.30% | 139 |
| 4 | Furniture, Lighting, Home Decor & Kitchen Accessories | 16 | 5.93% | 97 |
| 5 | Medical & Health | 13 | 4.81% | 81 |
| 6 | Fitness & Sports Accessories | 12 | 4.44% | 45 |
| 7 | Entertainment, Musical Instruments & Accessories | 10 | 3.70% | 67 |
| 8 | Home, Kitchen Appliances & Accessories | 10 | 3.70% | 52 |
| 9 | Equipment, Tools & Accessories | 8 | 2.96% | 19 |
| 10 | Educational, Media, News & Magazines | 5 | 1.85% | 48 |
| 10 Industries Faced 92.22% of Lawsuits in August-2024 | 249 | 92.22% | 1,717 | |
| 9 Industries Faced 7.78% of Lawsuits in August-2024 | 21 | 7.78% | 279 | |
| Total ADA Website Lawsuits by Industry in August-2024 | 270 | 100% | 1,996 | |
ADA Lawsuits Filed By Web Platforms in August 2024
Website owners rely on a variety of platforms and custom-coded solutions to operate their online businesses. Among the platforms most commonly associated with websites involved in ADA-related lawsuits are Shopify, WordPress, Salesforce, and Magento.
It’s essential to note that these platforms are not accountable for any legal issues online businesses may encounter regarding accessibility. Ensuring that a website is accessible to all users is the responsibility of each business.
Shopify
A cloud-based e-commerce platform that is popular among small to medium-sized businesses looking to sell products online. It offers various user-friendly tools to enable users to create online stores easily.
Lawsuits: 88
Percentage: 32.69%
WordPress
One of the most popular content management systems (CMS) that powers a significant portion of the web. It’s designed for blogging, but also widely used by e-commerce stores.
Lawsuits: 66
Percentage: 24.44%
Salesforce Commerce Cloud
A cloud-based platform that helps businesses manage customer interactions, sales, and marketing.
Lawsuits: 12
Percentage: 4.44%
Magento
An open-source e-commerce platform that’s particularly suited for medium to large online retailers, offering features for catalog management and marketing.
Lawsuits: 8
Percentage: 2.96%
Other Custom Coded Websites
Custom websites designed with unique features to fit the specific needs of businesses.
Lawsuits: 96
Percentage: 35.56%
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