In a groundbreaking legal battle, a visually impaired individual has taken on a major franchising company over alleged discrimination due to website inaccessibility. Ashley Bahena filed a class action complaint against Kahala Franchising, LLC in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on February 3, 2026. The lawsuit claims that the company’s website, thegreatsteak.com, is not accessible to blind and visually impaired individuals, violating their rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
The complaint details how Bahena, who is legally blind and relies on screen-reading software to navigate digital content, was unable to access or complete transactions on Kahala Franchising’s website due to significant accessibility barriers. These barriers include lack of alternative text for images, improper use of headings and landmarks, inaccessible forms and drop-down menus, and elements that require mouse interaction rather than keyboard navigation. “Defendant excludes the blind and visually-impaired from full and equal participation in the growing Internet economy,” states the complaint.
Bahena’s legal team argues that despite readily available technology to make websites accessible—such as using alternative text for images and ensuring all functions can be performed via keyboard—Kahala Franchising has failed to implement these measures. This failure not only denies visually impaired individuals equal access but also perpetuates discrimination by requiring them to rely on sighted companions for assistance. The lawsuit seeks a permanent injunction requiring Kahala Franchising to make its website fully accessible and compliant with ADA standards.
The plaintiff’s case hinges on several key allegations: that Kahala Franchising’s website is a place of public accommodation under Title III of the ADA; that it fails to provide reasonable modifications necessary for visually impaired individuals; and that it utilizes methods of administration that discriminate against these individuals. Bahena is seeking compensatory damages for unlawful discrimination as well as an order certifying this case as a class action.
Representing Bahena is Alison Chan from Equal Access Law Group, PLLC. The case is presided over by judges from the Northern District of Illinois under Case No.: 1:26-cv-1211.
Source: 126cv01211_Ashley_Bahena_v_Kahala_Franchising_Complaint_Northern_District_of_Illinois.pdf
