A lawsuit has been filed alleging that a popular online retailer’s website denies blind and visually impaired individuals equal access to its goods and services, raising questions about compliance with federal disability laws. The complaint was submitted by Tammy Hampton on March 20, 2026, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois against Alexis Irene Companies, LLC.
According to the filing, Hampton is legally blind and relies on screen-reading software to navigate websites. She claims that the defendant’s website, https://staticnails.com/, contains significant barriers that prevent her and others who are visually impaired from independently accessing or completing transactions on the site. The complaint states: “Defendant is denying blind and visually impaired individuals throughout the United States equal access to the goods and services Defendant provides to their non-disabled customers through the Website.”
The legal action asserts that these alleged barriers violate Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which prohibits discrimination based on disability in places of public accommodation. The complaint outlines several specific issues encountered by Hampton while attempting to shop online for nail lacquer products. These include missing alternative text for images, improper heading structures, inaccessible drop-down menus, ambiguous link texts, lack of keyboard navigation support, and pop-up windows that are not announced or accessible via screen readers. Hampton reports that she was unable to complete a purchase due to these obstacles.
The document details how such accessibility failures force visually impaired customers to rely on assistance from sighted individuals or resort to shopping at physical stores—an option that may require additional time, effort, or resources. The complaint emphasizes: “If the Website was accessible, a visually impaired individual could independently investigate products and make purchases via the Internet as sighted individuals can and do.”
Hampton alleges that Alexis Irene Companies’ failure to address these issues constitutes intentional discrimination under both state and federal law. She points out that established guidelines exist for making websites accessible—such as those provided by the World Wide Web Consortium’s Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.2)—and argues that implementing them would not fundamentally alter the nature of the business nor impose an undue burden.
The lawsuit seeks certification as a nationwide class action representing all legally blind individuals in the United States who have attempted to access staticnails.com but were denied full enjoyment of its goods and services during the relevant statutory period. Common questions cited include whether the website qualifies as a place of public accommodation under ADA definitions and whether it unlawfully denies equal enjoyment of its offerings.
As remedies, Hampton requests both preliminary and permanent injunctions requiring Alexis Irene Companies to bring its website into compliance with ADA standards so it becomes fully accessible for visually impaired users. Additional relief sought includes declaratory judgment affirming discrimination occurred, class certification with Hampton as representative plaintiff, appointment of her attorneys as class counsel, pre- and post-judgment interest, costs of litigation including reasonable attorney fees, expert fees, and any other relief deemed appropriate by the court.
The filing also describes emotional distress suffered by Hampton due to repeated denials of access: “Plaintiff suffers interference with daily activities…including emotional and mental anguish…humiliation…frustration…embarrassment…and anxiety.”
Hampton is represented by Michael Ohrenberger of Equal Access Law Group PLLC. The case number is 1:26-cv-3128.
Source: 126cv03128_Tammy_Hampton_v_Alexis_Irene_Complaint_Northern_District_of_Illinois.pdf
