A visually impaired individual has taken legal action against a major pet accessory company, accusing it of failing to make its website accessible to blind and visually impaired users. On February 4, 2026, Livingston Bennett filed a class-action complaint in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois against Lupine, Inc. The lawsuit claims that the company’s website does not comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), thereby denying equal access to products and services offered online.
Livingston Bennett, who is legally blind and relies on screen-reading software to navigate digital content, argues that Lupine’s website contains significant accessibility barriers. These barriers include ambiguous link texts, lack of navigation links, and elements that require mouse interaction rather than keyboard use—issues that make it impossible for visually impaired individuals to complete transactions independently. “Defendant excludes the blind and visually-impaired from full and equal participation in the growing Internet economy,” states Bennett in his complaint. He emphasizes that this exclusion violates ADA provisions aimed at eliminating discrimination against individuals with disabilities.
The complaint highlights that despite existing technologies and guidelines like the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2, which provide clear instructions for making websites accessible, Lupine has not implemented these measures. This failure has led Bennett to seek a permanent injunction requiring Lupine to modify its website policies and practices to ensure accessibility for all users. Additionally, Bennett seeks compensatory damages for himself and other class members who have faced similar discrimination due to these access barriers.
Bennett’s lawsuit underscores the broader issue of digital accessibility as an essential aspect of civil rights in today’s internet-driven world. The case seeks not only injunctive relief but also declaratory judgment affirming that Lupine’s current website operations discriminate against visually impaired individuals under federal law. The outcome could set a precedent for how businesses approach web accessibility compliance moving forward.
Representing Bennett is attorney Michael Ohrenberger from Equal Access Law Group, PLLC. The case is presided over by judges in the Northern District of Illinois under Case No.: 1:26-cv-1296.
Source: 126cv01296_Livingston_Bennett_v_Lupine_Complaint_Northern_District_of_Illinois .pdf
