ADA WEBSITE ACCESSIBILITY LAWSUITS SEPTEMBER 2024 REPORT
ADA website related lawsuits filed in July 2024
ADA website lawsuits filed against websites using Shopify
Lawsuits filed against accessibility widget installed
Summary
In September 2024, we observed a slight uptick in ADA website lawsuits, with a total of 276 ADA cases filed, compared to 270 lawsuits filed in August 2024.
Findings from the report reveal that 68 plaintiffs were involved, with 17 plaintiffs alone filing over 51% of the lawsuits, indicating a concentration of activity among a small group.
Notably, 10 law firms were responsible for over 80% of the filings, showcasing the prevalence of boilerplate legal practices.
It’s worth noting that a significant portion of these lawsuits, 93 in total, were targeted at websites using Shopify. This underscores the need for ADA compliance, particularly for websites operating on this platform. Additionally, 22.83% of the lawsuits involved websites that utilized accessibility widgets, indicating a heightened scrutiny on these tools.
Regarding location, New York led with 147 lawsuits, followed by Florida with 43, and California with 39. In contrast, only one lawsuit was filed in Pennsylvania, and 46 were spread across the remaining states.
The Lifestyle, Fashion, Clothing & Apparel sector, which accounted for 109 cases, is facing greater scrutiny than other industries. In comparison, the Restaurant, Food, Drinks & Beverages industry saw only 54 lawsuits, highlighting the disparity in the focus on different sectors and the urgent need for ADA compliance.
Total Federal and State Court ADA Website Lawsuit for September 2024
17 Plaintiffs Filed Over 51% ADA Lawsuits in September 2024
| Sr. No: | Plaintiff Name | Plaintiff Firm Name | Number of Cases in September | Percentage | Jan to Sept |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Juan Igartua | Jon L. Norinsberg, Esq., PLLC | 16 | 5.80% | 25 |
| 2 | Edery Herrera | Gottlieb & Associates | 13 | 4.71% | 27 |
| 3 | Joseph Ortiz | Gottlieb & Associates | 11 | 3.99% | 14 |
| 4 | Mykayla Fagnani | Gottlieb & Associates | 10 | 3.62% | 26 |
| 5 | Nelson Fernandez | Roderick V. Hannah, Esq., P.A. | 9 | 3.26% | 70 |
| 6 | Hannibal Wheatley | Jon L. Norinsberg, Esq., PLLC | 9 | 3.26% | 9 |
| 7 | Cesar Cotto | Manning Law, APC | 8 | 2.90% | 50 |
| 8 | Oscar Herrera | Roderick V. Hannah, Esq., P.A. | 8 | 2.90% | 46 |
| 9 | Victor Ariza | Roderick V. Hannah, Esq., P.A. | 7 | 2.54% | 88 |
| 10 | Jessica Karim | Gabriel A. Levy, P.C. | 7 | 2.54% | 83 |
| 11 | Rebecca Castillo | Manning Law, APC | 7 | 2.54% | 44 |
| 12 | Arantza Castro | Mendez Law Offices, PLLC | 7 | 2.54% | 31 |
| 13 | Jesus Torres | Manning Law, APC | 7 | 2.54% | 7 |
| 14 | Alfred Trippett | Gabriel A. Levy, P.C. | 6 | 2.17% | 25 |
| 15 | Pasquale Agnone | Horowitz Law, PLLC | 6 | 2.17% | 17 |
| 16 | Milton Williams | Gottlieb & Associates | 6 | 2.17% | 6 |
| 17 | Julie Dalton | Throndset Michenfelder Law Office, LLC | 5 | 1.81% | 52 |
| 17 Plaintiffs Filed 51.45% ADA Lawsuits in September-2024 | 142 | 51.45% | 620 | ||
| 51 Plaintiffs Collectively Filed 48.55% ADA Lawsuits in September-2024 | 134 | 48.55% | 1,652 | ||
| 68 Plaintiffs Filed 276 Website ADA Lawsuits in September-2024 | 276 | 100% | 2,272 | ||
Key Summary Points:
- Only 17 plaintiffs collectively filed 142 (51.45%) of the total of cases in September 2024.
- Plaintiff Juan Igartua (Jon L. Norinsberg, Esq., PLLC) sued the most number of websites for accessibility issues, filing 16 lawsuits in September.
- Notably, when looking at lawsuits filed by plaintiffs from January to September, Victor Ariza and Jessica Karim accounted for a staggering amount, with 88 and 83, respectively.
Top 5 Plaintiffs
Lawsuits: 59
Percentage: 21.38%
Top 10 Plaintiffs
Lawsuits: 98
Percentage: 35.51%
Top 20 Plaintiffs
Lawsuits: 157
Percentage: 56.88%
Top 50 Plaintiffs
Lawsuits: 257
Percentage: 93.12%
10 Law Firms Filed Over 84% of ADA Lawsuits in September 2024
| Sr. No: | Plaintiff Firm Name | Number of Cases in September | Percentage | Year to Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gottlieb & Associates | 53 | 19.20% | 256 |
| 2 | Gabriel A. Levy, P.C. | 33 | 11.96% | 188 |
| 3 | Manning Law, APC | 28 | 10.14% | 177 |
| 4 | Roderick V. Hannah, Esq., P.A. | 27 | 9.78% | 225 |
| 5 | Jon L. Norinsberg, Esq., PLLC | 25 | 9.06% | 34 |
| 6 | Stein Saks, PLLC | 20 | 7.25% | 335 |
| 7 | NYE Stirling, Hale & Miller, LLP | 16 | 5.80% | 109 |
| 8 | Horowitz Law, PLLC | 13 | 4.71% | 39 |
| 9 | Mendez Law Offices, PLLC | 10 | 3.62% | 105 |
| 10 | Pacific Trial Attorneys, APC | 9 | 3.26% | 138 |
| 10 Law Firms Filed 84.78% ADA Lawsuits in September-2024 | 234 | 84.78% | 1,606 | |
| 13 Law Firms Filed 15.22% ADA Lawsuits in September-2024 | 42 | 15.22% | 666 | |
| 23 Law Firms Collectively Filed 276 Lawsuits in September-2024 | 276 | 100% | 2,272 | |
Key Summary Points:
- Law firm Gottlieb & Associates filed the most ADA-related lawsuits (53) in September compared to other firms, bringing its year-to-date total to an astounding 256 cases.
- While Stein Saks, PLLC only accounted for 20 lawsuits this month, its filings from January to September are higher than other firms, with 335 in total.
- The total of firms collectively representing the 276 cases for September is 23, pointing to a heightened focus on ADA website litigation across multiple law firms.
Top 5 plaintiff Firms
Lawsuits: 166
Percentage: 60.14%
Top 10 plaintiff Firms
Lawsuits: 234
Percentage: 84.78%
Top 15 plaintiff Firms
Lawsuits: 263
Percentage: 95.29%
Industries Affected by Website Accessibility Lawsuits in September 2024
| Sr. No: | Industry Category | Number of Cases in September | Percentage | Year to Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lifestyle, Fashion, Clothing & Apparel | 109 | 39.49% | 797 |
| 2 | Restaurant, Food, Drinks & Beverages | 54 | 19.57% | 535 |
| 3 | Beauty, Skin & Body Care | 18 | 6.52% | 157 |
| 4 | Furniture, Lighting, Home Decor & Kitchen Accessories | 15 | 5.43% | 112 |
| 5 | Computer, Mobile & Electronic Accessories | 13 | 4.71% | 44 |
| 6 | Medical & Health | 12 | 4.35% | 93 |
| 7 | Entertainment, Musical Instruments & Accessories | 12 | 4.35% | 79 |
| 8 | Home, Kitchen Appliances & Accessories | 6 | 2.17% | 58 |
| 9 | Educational, Media, News & Magazines | 6 | 2.17% | 54 |
| 10 | Travel, Hotels & Hospitality | 6 | 2.17% | 40 |
| 10 Industries Faced 90.94% of Lawsuits in September-2024 | 251 | 90.94% | 1,969 | |
| 9 Industries Faced 9.06% of Lawsuits in September-2024 | 25 | 9.06% | 303 | |
| Total ADA Website Lawsuits by Industry in September-2024 | 276 | 100% | 2,272 | |
ADA Lawsuits Filed By Web Platforms in September 2024
Many business owners use various website platforms to manage their online presence. Although these platforms provide tools to build accessible websites, some businesses face ADA-related lawsuits due to how their websites are built, often overlooking accessibility requirements.
It’s important to understand that website owners are responsible for ensuring their sites meet ADA standards and are accessible to everyone. The platforms offer the tools needed for accessibility, but it’s up to the website owners to use these features effectively.
Shopify
A user-friendly e-commerce solution designed to simplify the process of setting up and managing online stores.
Lawsuits: 93
Percentage: 33.70%
WordPress
A versatile content management system that offers extensive customization options and a wide array of plugins.
Lawsuits: 69
Percentage: 25.00%
Salesforce Commerce Cloud
A cloud-based solution designed for handling complex and large-scale e-commerce needs efficiently.
Lawsuits: 10
Percentage: 3.62%
Magento
An expandable, open-source e-commerce solution offering advanced customization options.
Lawsuits: 3
Percentage: 1.09%
Other Custom Coded Websites
Bespoke websites tailored with unique designs and features to meet the specific needs of businesses.
Lawsuits: 101
Percentage: 36.59%
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