In a landmark case highlighting the digital divide for individuals with disabilities, a visually-impaired plaintiff has filed a class action lawsuit against a major retailer for failing to make its website accessible. Erika Randolph, on behalf of herself and others similarly situated, lodged the complaint in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on November 11, 2025, targeting Patricia Nash Designs Inc.
The lawsuit accuses Patricia Nash Designs of violating the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by not ensuring that its website is accessible to blind and visually-impaired users. Randolph claims that she was unable to complete an online purchase due to significant access barriers on Patricianashdesigns.com. These barriers include ambiguous link texts, inaccessible contact information, and lack of alternative text for images, which prevent screen-reading software from effectively conveying information to users who are blind. “The defendant’s denial of full and equal access to its website…is a violation of Plaintiff’s rights under the ADA,” states the complaint.
Randolph argues that despite readily available technology to make websites accessible, Patricia Nash Designs has failed to implement necessary modifications. This oversight forces visually-impaired individuals like her to rely on sighted companions or visit physical stores, thereby excluding them from participating fully in online commerce. The complaint emphasizes that this exclusion contravenes Congress’s mandate under the ADA for eliminating discrimination against individuals with disabilities.
Seeking redress from the court, Randolph requests a permanent injunction requiring Patricia Nash Designs to overhaul its website policies and practices so that it becomes fully accessible. Additionally, she seeks compensatory damages for unlawful discrimination experienced by her and other class members due to these accessibility barriers.
Representing Randolph is attorney Uri Horowitz from Flushing, New York. The case is presided over by judges in the Northern District of Illinois under Case No.: 1:25-cv-13820.
Source: 125cv13820_Erika_Randolph_v_Patricia_Nash_Complaint_Northern_District_of_Illinois.pdf
