In a landmark class action lawsuit, a visually impaired individual has taken legal action against a prominent tea company for allegedly failing to make its website accessible to blind and visually impaired users. The complaint was filed by Tazinique Echols in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on February 25, 2026, targeting Harney & Sons Tea Corp. Echols accuses the company of violating the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by not providing an accessible online platform for individuals who rely on screen-reading software.
The case centers around Echols’ inability to access and use Harney & Sons’ website due to significant accessibility barriers. As a legally blind person, Echols requires screen-reading software to navigate digital content. However, she encountered numerous obstacles while attempting to browse and purchase products from the company’s website. According to the complaint, these barriers include inadequate alternative text for images, inaccessible interactive elements, improper keyboard navigation support, and automatic pop-ups that disorient users relying on screen readers. “The Website’s inaccessible design denies visually impaired customers the ability to independently navigate and/or make purchases,” Echols asserts in her filing.
Echols highlights that despite existing technology and guidelines for web accessibility—such as those outlined by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C)—Harney & Sons has failed to implement necessary changes. The plaintiff argues that this oversight excludes visually impaired individuals from participating in the growing Internet economy and accessing goods and services offered through digital platforms. The lawsuit seeks a permanent injunction requiring Harney & Sons to modify its website policies and practices to ensure compliance with ADA standards.
Beyond injunctive relief, Echols is also pursuing compensatory damages for herself and other class members who have experienced discrimination due to the website’s inaccessibility. The complaint emphasizes that without court intervention, these violations will persist, continuing to harm visually impaired consumers seeking equal access to online shopping experiences.
Representing Echols is Alison Chan of Equal Access Law Group, PLLC. The case is presided over under Case No.: 1:26-cv-2129 in front of judges at the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.
Source: 126cv02129_Tazinique_Echols_v_Harney_&_Sons_Complaint_Northern_District_of_Illinois.pdf
