ADA Website Accessibility Lawsuits August 2024 Report

ADA Website Accessibility Lawsuits
August 2024 Report

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 showing state-wise ADA website lawsuits filed in August 2024. Further details are provided below

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.

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.

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: 32.59%

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%

Consider EcomBack for Web Accessibility Services

Take action today to make your website accessible and ADA-compliant with EcomBack’s expert web accessibility services. As trusted ADA specialists, we’re committed to helping you provide an inclusive, user-friendly experience for individuals with disabilities—boosting your reach and protecting your business from legal risks.

Our service starts with a detailed Free Web Accessibility Audit to identify exactly where improvements are needed, followed by targeted enhancements across both code and content. With our continuous monitoring, you can feel confident that your website will remain accessible to all users, every day. Partner with EcomBack and make accessibility a seamless part of your business – starting today!

Take the first step towards a more inclusive online presence with us today: Get your FREE audit now.

Published in accordance with our Website Content Disclaimer

A multicolored circle with icons for the blind, the deaf, the brain-impaired, and the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).