Camacho V ST Rose

Case 1:18-cv-10764-ALC Document 1 Filed 11/17/18 Page 1 of 31
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
------------------------------------x
JASON CAMACHO AND ON BEHALF OF ALL : ECF CASE
:
OTHER PERSONS SIMILARLY SITUATED,
:
: No.: 18cv10764
Plaintiffs,
:
: CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT
v.
:
: JURY TRIAL DEMANDED
COLLEGE OF ST. ROSE,
:
:
Defendant.
:
:
------------------------------------x
INTRODUCTION
1. Plaintiff JASON CAMACHO, on behalf of himself and others similarly
situated, asserts the following claims against Defendant COLLEGE OF ST. ROSE as
follows.
2. Plaintiff is a visually-impaired and legally blind person who requires
screen-reading software to read website content using his computer. Plaintiff uses the terms
“blind” or “visually-impaired” to refer to all people with visual impairments who meet the
legal definition of blindness in that they have a visual acuity with correction of less than or
equal to 20 x 200. Some blind people who meet this definition have limited vision. Others
have no vision.
3. Based on a 2010 U.S. Census Bureau report, approximately 8.1 million
people in the United States are visually impaired, including 2.0 million who are blind, and
according to the American Foundation for the Blind’s 2015 report, approximately 400,000
visually impaired persons live in the State of New York.
-1-
4. Plaintiff brings this civil rights action against COLLEGE OF ST. ROSE
(“Defendant”) for its failure to design, construct, maintain, and operate its website to be
fully accessible to and independently usable by Plaintiff and other blind or visually-
impaired people. Defendant’s denial of full and equal access to its website, and therefore
denial of its products and services offered thereby and in conjunction with its physical
locations, is a violation of Plaintiff’s rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act
(“ADA”) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (“RA”).
5. Because Defendant’s website, WWW.STROSE.EDU (the “Website” or
“Defendant’s website”), is not equally accessible to blind and visually-impaired
consumers, it violates the ADA and the RA. Plaintiff seeks a permanent injunction to cause
a change in Defendant’s corporate policies, practices, and procedures so that Defendant’s
website will become and remain accessible to blind and visually-impaired consumers.
JURISDICTION AND VENUE
6. This Court has subject-matter jurisdiction over this action under 28 U.S.C.
§ 1331 and 42 U.S.C. § 12181, as Plaintiff’s claims arise under Title III of the ADA, 42
U.S.C. § 12181, et seq., 28 U.S.C. § 1332 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of
1973, 29 U.S.C. §794.
7. This Court has supplemental jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1367 over
Plaintiff’s New York State Human Rights Law, N.Y. Exec. Law Article 15, (“NYSHRL”)
and New York City Human Rights Law, N.Y.C. Admin. Code § 8-101 et seq.,
(“NYCHRL”) claims.
8. Venue is proper in this district under 28 U.S.C. §1391(b)(1) and (2) because
Defendant conducts and continues to conduct a substantial and significant amount of
-2-
business in this District, Defendant is subject to personal jurisdiction in this District, and a
substantial portion of the conduct complained of herein occurred in this District.
9. Defendant is subject to personal jurisdiction in this District. Defendant has
been and is committing the acts or omissions alleged herein in the Southern District of New
York that caused injury, and violated rights the ADA and RA prescribes to Plaintiff and to
other blind and other visually impaired-consumers. A substantial part of the acts and
omissions giving rise to Plaintiff’s claims occurred in this District: on separate occasions,
Plaintiff has been denied the full use and enjoyment of the facilities, goods, and services
of Defendant’s Website while attempting to access Defendant’s website from his home in
New York after attending the Defendant’s exhibit in New York, NY. ST. ROSE’S main
campus is located in Albany, New York. These access barriers that Plaintiff encountered
have caused a denial of Plaintiff’s full and equal access in the past, and now deter Plaintiff
on a regular basis from visiting Defendant’s school. This includes, Plaintiff attempting to
obtain information about Defendant’s school as hereinafter set forth in more detail.
10. Defendant is a university, college or other institution of higher learning.
Defendant regularly and systematically markets and solicits to prospective students in order
to encourage them to apply to and ultimately register and attend Defendant’s school and
thereby generate revenue for the Defendant. Defendant’s marketing campaign consists of
inter alia sending Defendant’s representatives (usually affiliated with Defendant’s Office
of Admissions) to various functions attended by prospective students such as high schools
and college fairs or exhibits.
-3-
11. Defendant regularly and systematically markets and solicits to prospective
students in New York City and the rest of New York State. Upon information and belief, a
substantial number of students attending Defendant’s school are from New York State.
12. The Javits Convention Center, located in New York, NY (“Javits”) is a large
and well known place of exhibition or entertainment, or convention center or place of
public gathering and is a place of public accommodations within the definitions set forth
in 42 U.S.C. 12181 (7)(c) and (d).
13. The National Association of College Admissions Counseling (“NACAC”)
has, for a number of years, sponsored college fairs or exhibits at Javits at least annually
and continues to do so.
14. Defendant is a member institution of NACAC.
15. On Nov. 5, 2018, NACAC sponsored a college fair or exhibit at Javits at
which the Defendant set up and maintained a booth with sales or admissions representatives
of the Defendant in order to market and solicit prospective students from the New York
City metropolitan area and the rest of New York State.
16. The Defendant’s actions of marketing and soliciting prospective students in
New York State by various means including, but not limited to, exhibiting at college fairs
in New York City and utilizing their website in conjunction therewith constitutes doing
business in New York and subjects the Defendant to personal jurisdiction in this District.
See, South Dakota v. Wayfair, 585 U.S. __, (6/21/18).
17. This Court is empowered to issue a declaratory judgment under 28 U.S.C.
§§ 2201 and 2202.
THE PARTIES
-4-
18. Plaintiff JASON CAMACHO, at all relevant times, is a resident of
Brooklyn, New York. Plaintiff is a blind, visually-impaired handicapped person and a
member of a protected class of individuals under the ADA, 42 U.S.C. § 12102(1)-(2), and
the regulations implementing the ADA set forth at 28 CFR §§ 36.101 et seq., under the
RA, 29 U.S.C. § 701 et seq. and the regulations implementing the RA set forth at 34
C.F.R. §104 et seq., and the NYSHRL.
19. Upon information and belief, Defendant is and was, at all relevant times
herein, chartered or incorporated by The Regents of the University of the State of New
York pursuant to Education Law §216 with its main campus located in Albany, NY.
Defendant operates COLLEGE OF ST. ROSE as well as the COLLEGE OF ST. ROSE
website (WWW.STROSE.EDU) and advertises, markets, distributes, and/or provides
courses of learning in the State of New York and throughout the United States. Defendant
is, upon information and belief, licensed to do business and is doing business in the State
of New York.
20. This school and its exhibits at Javits constitute places of public
accommodation. Defendant’s school provides to the public important educational services.
Defendant’s Website provides consumers with access to an array of services including
information about: school location and hours, curriculum and programs of instruction,
academic calendars, course and admission prerequisites, cost of tuition, available financial
aid, career services, accreditation, faculty, campus security, transfer credits, textbooks, and
other vital information needed by prospective students in order to make informed decisions
about the Defendant’s school.
-5-
21. Defendant’s school is a public accommodation within the definition of Title
III of the ADA, 42 U.S.C. § 12181(7)(j). Defendant’s Website is a service, privilege, or
advantage that is heavily integrated with Defendant’s physical school and its exhibits at
college fairs and operates as a gateway thereto.
NATURE OF ACTION
22. The Internet has become a significant source of information, a portal, and a
tool for conducting business, doing everyday activities such as shopping, learning, banking,
researching, as well as many other activities for sighted, blind and visually-impaired
persons alike.
23. In today’s tech-savvy world, blind and visually-impaired people have the
ability to access websites using keyboards in conjunction with screen access software that
vocalizes the visual information found on a computer screen or displays the content on a
refreshable Braille display. This technology is known as screen-reading software. Screen-
reading software is currently the only method a blind or visually-impaired person may
independently access the internet. Unless websites are designed to be read by screen-
reading software, blind and visually-impaired persons are unable to fully access websites,
and the information, products, and services contained thereon. An accessibility notice is
put on a website by the creator thereof to showcase that the website is working diligently
to create a better experience for low-vision or blind users.
24. Blind and visually-impaired users of Windows operating system-enabled
computers and devices have several screen reading software programs available to them.
Some of these programs are available for purchase and other programs are available
without the user having to purchase the program separately. Job Access With Speech,
-6-
otherwise known as “JAWS” is currently the most popular, separately purchased and
downloaded screen-reading software program available for a Windows computer.
25. For screen-reading software to function, the information on a website must
be capable of being rendered into text. If the website content is not capable of being
rendered into text, the blind or visually-impaired user is unable to access the same content
available to sighted users.
26. The international website standards organization, the World Wide Web
Consortium, known throughout the world as W3C, has published version 2.0 of the Web
Content Accessibility Guidelines (“WCAG 2.0”). WCAG 2.0 are well-established
guidelines for making websites accessible to blind and visually-impaired people. These
guidelines are universally followed by most large business entities and government
agencies to ensure their websites are accessible. Many Courts have also established WCAG
2.0 as the standard guideline for accessibility.
27. Non-compliant websites pose common access barriers to blind and visually-
impaired persons. Common barriers encountered by blind and visually impaired persons
include, but are not limited to, the following:
a. A text equivalent for every non-text element is not provided;
b. Title frames with text are not provided for identification and
navigation;
c. Equivalent text is not provided when using scripts;
d. Forms with the same information and functionality as for sighted
persons are not provided;
-7-
e. Information about the meaning and structure of content is not
conveyed by more than the visual presentation of content;
f. Text cannot be resized without assistive technology up to 200%
without losing content or functionality;
g. If the content enforces a time limit, the user is not able to extend,
adjust or disable it;
h. Web pages do not have titles that describe the topic or purpose;
i. The purpose of each link cannot be determined from the link text
alone or from the link text and its programmatically determined link context;
j. One or more keyboard operable user interface lacks a mode of
operation where the keyboard focus indicator is discernible;
k. The default human language of each web page cannot be
programmatically determined;
l. When a component receives focus, it may initiate a change in
context;
m. Changing the setting of a user interface component may
automatically cause a change of context where the user has not been advised before using
the component;
n. Labels or instructions are not provided when content requires user
input, which include captcha prompts that require the user to verify that he or he is not a
robot;
o. In content which is implemented by using markup languages,
elements do not have complete start and end tags, elements are not nested according to
-8-
their specifications, elements may contain duplicate attributes and/or any IDs are not
unique;
p. Inaccessible Portable Document Format (PDFs); and,
q. The name and role of all User Interface elements cannot be
programmatically determined; items that can be set by the user cannot be programmatically
set; and/or notification of changes to these items is not available to user agents, including
assistive technology.
STATEMENT OF FACTS
Defendant’s Barriers on Its Website
28. Defendant offers the commercial website, WWW.STROSE.EDU, to the
public. The website offers features which should allow all consumers to access the services
which Defendant offers in connection with their physical locations. The services offered
by Defendant include, but are not limited to the following, which allow consumers to find
information about: school location and hours, curriculum and programs of instruction,
other vital information needed by prospective students in order to make an informed
decision about the Defendant’s school.
29. It is, upon information and belief, Defendant’s policy and practice to deny
Plaintiff, along with other blind or visually-impaired users, access to Defendant’s website,
and to therefore specifically deny the services that are offered and are heavily integrated
with Defendant’s school and exhibits at college fairs. Due to Defendant’s failure and
refusal to remove access barriers to its website, Plaintiff and visually-impaired persons
-9-
have been and are still being denied equal access to Defendant’s school and the numerous
services and benefits offered to the public through the Website.
30. Plaintiff is a visually-impaired and legally blind person, who cannot use a
computer without the assistance of screen-reading software. Plaintiff is, however, a
proficient JAWS screen-reader user and uses it to access the Internet. Plaintiff has visited
the Website on separate occasions using the JAWS screen-reader.
31. Plaintiff, Jason Camacho, attended the NACAC college fair at Javits on
Nov. 5, 2018 in order to obtain information from the college exhibitors presenting and
marketing at the fair including the Defendant’s school.
32. Soon after attending the Javits fair, Mr. Camacho attempted to access the
Defendant’s website in order to obtain additional information about the Defendant’s school
but was thwarted in his efforts to do so due to the inaccessibility of the Defendant’s website
as set forth herein.
33. During Plaintiff’s visits to the Website, Plaintiff encountered multiple
access barriers that denied Plaintiff full and equal access to the facilities and services
offered to the public and made available to the public; and that denied Plaintiff the full
enjoyment of the facilities and services of the Website, as well as to the facilities and
services of Defendant’s physical school location by being unable to learn more information
about: school location and hours, curriculum and programs of instruction, academic
calendars, course and admission prerequisites, cost of tuition, available financial aid, career
services, accreditation, faculty, campus security, transfer credits, textbooks, and other vital
information needed by prospective students in order to make an informed decision about
the Defendant’s school.
-10-
34. While attempting to navigate the Website, Plaintiff encountered multiple
accessibility barriers for blind or visually-impaired people that include, but are not limited
to, the following:
a. Lack of Alternative Text (“alt-text”), or a text equivalent. Alt-text is
an invisible code embedded beneath a graphical image on a website. Web accessibility
requires that alt-text be coded with each picture so that screen-reading software can speak
the alt-text where a sighted user sees pictures, which includes captcha prompts. Alt-text
does not change the visual presentation, but instead a text box shows when the keyboard
scrolls over the picture. The lack of alt-text on these graphics prevents screen readers from
accurately vocalizing a description of the graphics. As a result, visually-impaired
prospective students of the Defendant are unable to determine what is on the website,
browse, look for: school location and hours, curriculum and programs of instruction,
other vital information needed by prospective students in order to make an informed
decision about the Defendant’s school.
b. Empty Links That Contain No Text causing the function or purpose
of the link to not be presented to the user. This can introduce confusion for keyboard and
screen-reader users;
c. Redundant Links where adjacent links go to the same URL address
which results in additional navigation and repetition for keyboard and screen-reader users;
and
-11-
d. Linked Images Missing Alt-text, which causes problems if an image
within a link contains no text and that image does not provide alt-text. A screen reader then
has no content to present the user as to the function of the link, including information
contained in PDFs.
35. The stated principles of NACAC members include “They strive to
eliminate bias within the educational system based on …disability.”1
36. By its failure to provide a website that is accessible to the blind or vision
impaired, Defendant, that is a member of NACAC, intentionally violated NACAC’s basic
principles to eliminate bias toward the disabled as well as federal, state and city statutes
and regulations designed to protect those members of society who are in need of protection
by those various laws.
37. NACAC maintains a business relationship with the New York Daily News
newspaper which publishes full page advertisements for the NACAC college fairs at Javits
and an onsite guide to the exhibitors which is distributed free of charge to attendees at the
college fairs. Exhibitors, such as the Defendant, may participate in the New York Daily
News advertisements and/or advertise in the onsite guide.
38. NACAC exhibitors at Javits also participate in a cooperative lead retrieval
service to aid in their marketing efforts to prospective students in order to increase their
revenue generated by tuition paying students.
Defendant Must Remove Barriers To Its Website
1
https://www.nacacnet.org/globalassets/documents/advocacy-and-ethics/statement-of-principles-of-good-
practice/spgp_10_1_2016_final.pdf last accessed Nov. , 2018.
-12-
39. Due to the inaccessibility of Defendant’s Website, blind and visually-
impaired customers such as Plaintiff, who need screen-readers, cannot fully and equally
use or enjoy the facilities and services Defendant offers to the public on its Website. The
access barriers Plaintiff encountered have caused a denial of Plaintiff’s full and equal
access in the past, and now deter Plaintiff on a regular basis from accessing the Website.
40. These access barriers on Defendant’s Website have deterred Plaintiff from
visiting Defendant’s school and enjoying the services offered by the Defendant equal to
sighted individuals because: Plaintiff was unable to find information about: school location
and hours, curriculum and programs of instruction, academic calendars, course and
admission prerequisites, cost of tuition, available financial aid, career services,
accreditation, faculty, campus security, transfer credits, textbooks, and other vital
information needed by prospective students in order to make an informed decision about
the Defendant’s school. Plaintiff intends to visit Defendant's school in the near future if he
could access their website.
41. If the Website was equally accessible to all, Plaintiff could independently
navigate the Website and complete a desired transaction as sighted individuals do.
42. Through his attempts to use the Website, Plaintiff has actual knowledge of
the access barriers that make these services inaccessible and independently unusable by
blind and visually-impaired people.
43. Because simple compliance with the WCAG 2.0 Guidelines would provide
Plaintiff and other visually-impaired consumers with equal access to the Website, Plaintiff
alleges that Defendant has engaged in acts of intentional discrimination or with deliberate
indifference, including, but not limited to, the following policies or practices:
-13-
a. Constructing and maintaining a website that is inaccessible to
visually-impaired individuals, including Plaintiff;
b. Failure to construct and maintain a website that is sufficiently
intuitive so as to be equally accessible to visually-impaired individuals, including Plaintiff;
and,
c. Failing to take actions to correct these access barriers in the face of
substantial harm and discrimination to blind and visually-impaired consumers, such as
Plaintiff, as a member of a protected class.
44. Defendant therefore uses standards, criteria or methods of administration
that have the effect of discriminating or perpetuating the discrimination of others, as
alleged herein.
45. The ADA expressly contemplates the injunctive relief that Plaintiff seeks in
this action. In relevant part, the ADA requires:
In the case of violations of . . . this title, injunctive relief shall include an order to alter
facilities to make such facilities readily accessible to and usable by individuals with
disabilities . . . Where appropriate, injunctive relief shall also include requiring the
. . . modification of a policy . . .
42 U.S.C. § 12188(a)(2).
46. Because Defendant’s Website has never been equally accessible, and
because Defendant lacks a corporate policy that is reasonably calculated to cause its
Website to become and remain accessible, Plaintiff invokes 42 U.S.C. § 12188(a)(2) and
seeks a permanent injunction requiring Defendant to retain a qualified consultant
acceptable to Plaintiff (“Agreed Upon Consultant”) to assist Defendant to comply with
WCAG 2.0 guidelines for Defendant’s Website. The Website must be accessible for
individuals with disabilities who use computers, laptops, tablets and smart phones. Plaintiff
-14-
seeks that this permanent injunction requires Defendant to cooperate with the Agreed Upon
Consultant to:
a. Train Defendant’s employees and agents who develop the Website
on accessibility compliance under the WCAG 2.0 guidelines;
b. Regularly check the accessibility of the Website under the WCAG
2.0 guidelines;
c. Regularly test user accessibility by blind or vision-impaired persons
to ensure that Defendant’s Website complies under the WCAG 2.0 guidelines; and,
d. Develop an accessibility policy that is clearly disclosed on
Defendant’s Website, with contact information for users to report accessibility-related
problems and require that any third party vendors who participate on its Website to be fully
accessible to the disabled by conforming with WCAG 2.0 criteria.
47. If the Website was accessible, Plaintiff and similarly situated blind and
visually-impaired people could independently view service items, locate Defendant’s
school, shop for and otherwise research related services available via the Website such as
curriculum, financial aids, campus tours and other vital information.
48. Although Defendant may currently have centralized policies regarding
maintaining and operating its Website, Defendant lacks a plan and policy reasonably
calculated to make them fully and equally accessible to, and independently usable by, blind
and other visually-impaired consumers.
49. Defendant has, upon information and belief, invested substantial sums in
-15-
developing and maintaining its Website and has generated significant revenue from the
Website. These amounts are far greater than the associated cost of making their Website
equally accessible to visually impaired customers.
50. Without injunctive relief, Plaintiff and other visually-impaired consumers
will continue to be unable to independently use the Website, violating their rights.
CLASS ACTION ALLEGATIONS
51. Plaintiff, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, seeks to
certify a nationwide class under Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(a) and 23(b)(2): all legally blind
individuals in the United States who have attempted to access Defendant’s Website and as
a result have been denied access to the equal enjoyment of services offered in Defendant’s
physical locations and on its website, during the relevant statutory period.
certify a New York State subclass under Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(a) and 23(b)(2): all legally blind
individuals in the State of New York who have attempted to access Defendant’s Website
and as a result have been denied access to the equal enjoyment of services offered in
Defendant’s physical locations and on its website, during the relevant statutory period.
certify a New York City subclass under Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(a) and 23(b)(2): all legally blind
individuals in the City of New York who have attempted to access Defendant’s Website
and as a result have been denied access to the equal enjoyment of services offered in
Defendant’s physical locations and on its website, during the relevant statutory period.
54. Common questions of law and fact exist amongst Class, including:
-16-
a. Whether Defendant’s Website is a “public accommodation” under
the ADA;
b. Whether Defendant’s Website is a “place or provider of public
accommodation” under the NYSHRL or NYCHRL;
c. Whether Defendant’s Website denies the full and equal enjoyment
of its services, facilities, privileges, advantages, or accommodations to people with visual
disabilities, violating the ADA and the RA; and
d. Whether Defendant’s Website denies the full and equal enjoyment
of its services, facilities, privileges, advantages, or accommodations to people with visual
disabilities, violating the NYSHRL and the NYCHRL.
55. Plaintiff’s claims are typical of the Class. The Class, similarly to the
Plaintiff, are severely visually impaired or otherwise blind, and claim that Defendant has
violated the ADA, RA, NYSHRL and NYCHRL by failing to update or remove access
barriers on its Website so it can be independently accessible to the Class.
56. Plaintiff will fairly and adequately represent and protect the interests of the
Class Members because Plaintiff has retained and is represented by counsel competent and
experienced in complex class action litigation, and because Plaintiff has no interests
antagonistic to the Class Members. Class certification of the claims is appropriate under
Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(b)(2) because Defendant has acted or refused to act on grounds generally
applicable to the Class, making appropriate both declaratory and injunctive relief with
respect to Plaintiff and the Class as a whole.
57. Alternatively, class certification is appropriate under Fed. R. Civ. P.
23(b)(3) because fact and legal questions common to Class Members predominate over
-17-
questions affecting only individual Class Members, and because a class action is superior
to other available methods for the fair and efficient adjudication of this litigation.
58. Judicial economy will be served by maintaining this lawsuit as a class action
in that it is likely to avoid the burden that would be otherwise placed upon the judicial
system by the filing of numerous similar suits by people with visual disabilities throughout
the United States.
FIRST CAUSE OF ACTION

VIOLATIONS OF THE ADA, 42 U.S.C. § 12181 et seq.
59. Plaintiff, on behalf of himself and the Class Members, repeats and realleges
every allegation of the preceding paragraphs as if fully set forth herein.
60. Section 302(a) of Title III of the ADA, 42 U.S.C. § 12101 et seq., provides:
No individual shall be discriminated against on the basis of disability in the full and equal
enjoyment of the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, or
accommodations of any place of public accommodation by any person who owns,
leases (or leases to), or operates a place of public accommodation.
42 U.S.C. § 12182(a).
61. Defendant’s school and it’s exhibits at Javits are public accommodations
within the definition of Title III of the ADA, 42 U.S.C. § 12181(7). Defendant’s Website
is a service, privilege, or advantage of Defendant’s school. The Website is a service that is
heavily integrated with these locations and is a gateway thereto.
62. Under Section 302(b)(1) of Title III of the ADA, it is unlawful
discrimination to deny individuals with disabilities the opportunity to participate in or
benefit from the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, or accommodations of
an entity. 42 U.S.C. § 12182(b)(1)(A)(i).
-18-
63. Under Section 302(b)(1) of Title III of the ADA, it is unlawful
discrimination to deny individuals with disabilities an opportunity to participate in or
benefit from the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, or accommodation,
which is equal to the opportunities afforded to other individuals. 42 U.S.C. §
12182(b)(1)(A)(ii).
64. Under Section 302(b)(2) of Title III of the ADA, unlawful discrimination
also includes, among other things:
[A] failure to make reasonable modifications in policies, practices, or procedures, when

such modifications are necessary to afford such goods, services, facilities,
privileges, advantages, or accommodations to individuals with disabilities, unless
the entity can demonstrate that making such modifications would fundamentally
alter the nature of such goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages or
accommodations; and a failure to take such steps as may be necessary to ensure that
no individual with a disability is excluded, denied services, segregated or otherwise
treated differently than other individuals because of the absence of auxiliary aids
and services, unless the entity can demonstrate that taking such steps would
fundamentally alter the nature of the good, service, facility, privilege, advantage,
or accommodation being offered or would result in an undue burden.
42 U.S.C. § 12182(b)(2)(A)(ii)-(iii).
65. The acts alleged herein constitute violations of Title III of the ADA, and the
regulations promulgated thereunder. Plaintiff, who is a member of a protected class of
persons under the ADA, has a physical disability that substantially limits the major life
activity of sight within the meaning of 42 U.S.C. §§ 12102(1)(A)-(2)(A). Furthermore,
Plaintiff has been denied full and equal access to the Website, has not been provided
services that are provided to other patrons who are not disabled, and has been provided
services that are inferior to the services provided to non-disabled persons. Defendant has
failed to take any prompt and equitable steps to remedy its discriminatory conduct. These
violations are ongoing.
-19-
66. Under 42 U.S.C. § 12188 and the remedies, procedures, and rights set forth
and incorporated therein, Plaintiff, requests relief as set forth below.
SECOND CAUSE OF ACTION

VIOLATIONS OF THE NYSHRL
67. Plaintiff, on behalf of himself and the New York State Sub-Class Members,
repeats and realleges every allegation of the preceding paragraphs as if fully set forth
herein.
68. N.Y. Exec. Law § 296(2)(a) provides that it is “an unlawful discriminatory
practice for any person, being the owner, lessee, proprietor, manager, superintendent, agent
or employee of any place of public accommodation . . . because of the . . . disability of any
person, directly or indirectly, to refuse, withhold from or deny to such person any of the
accommodations, advantages, facilities or privileges thereof.”
69. Defendant’s physical exhibit locations are located in the State of New York
and constitutes a public accommodation within the definition of N.Y. Exec. Law § 292(9).
Defendant’s Website is a service, privilege or advantage of Defendant. Defendant’s
Website is a service that is heavily integrated with these physical locations and is a gateway
thereto.
70. Defendant is subject to New York Human Rights Law because it owns and
operates its physical locations and Website. Defendant is a person within the meaning of
N.Y. Exec. Law § 292(1).
71. Defendant is violating N.Y. Exec. Law § 296(2)(a) in refusing to update or
remove access barriers to its Website, causing its Website and the services integrated with
Defendant’s physical locations to be completely inaccessible to the blind. This
-20-
inaccessibility denies blind patrons full and equal access to the facilities and services that
Defendant makes available to the non-disabled public.
72. Under N.Y. Exec. Law § 296(2)(c)(i), unlawful discriminatory practice
includes, among other things, “a refusal to make reasonable modifications in policies,
practices, or procedures, when such modifications are necessary to afford facilities,
privileges, advantages or accommodations to individuals with disabilities, unless such
person can demonstrate that making such modifications would fundamentally alter the
nature of such facilities, privileges, advantages or accommodations being offered or would
result in an undue burden".
73. Under N.Y. Exec. Law § 296(2)(c)(ii), unlawful discriminatory practice
also includes, “a refusal to take such steps as may be necessary to ensure that no individual
with a disability is excluded or denied services because of the absence of auxiliary aids and
services, unless such person can demonstrate that taking such steps would fundamentally
alter the nature of the facility, privilege, advantage or accommodation being offered or
would result in an undue burden.”
74. Readily available, well-established guidelines exist on the Internet for
making websites accessible to the blind and visually impaired. These guidelines have been
followed by other large business entities and government agencies in making their website
accessible, including but not limited to: adding alt-text to graphics and ensuring that all
functions can be performed using a keyboard. Incorporating the basic components to make
its Website accessible would neither fundamentally alter the nature of Defendant’s business
nor result in an undue burden to Defendant.
-21-
75. Defendant’s actions constitute willful intentional discrimination against the
State Sub-class on the basis of a disability in violation of the NYSHRL, N.Y. Exec. Law §
296(2) in that Defendant has:
a. constructed and maintained a website that is inaccessible to blind
class members with knowledge of the discrimination; and/or
b. constructed and maintained a website that is sufficiently intuitive
and/or obvious that is inaccessible to blind class members; and/or
c. failed to take actions to correct these access barriers in the face of
substantial harm and discrimination to blind class members.
76. Defendant has failed to take any prompt and equitable steps to remedy their
discriminatory conduct. These violations are ongoing.
77. Defendant discriminates, and will continue in the future to discriminate
against Plaintiff and New York State Sub-Class Members on the basis of disability in the
full and equal enjoyment of the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages,
accommodations and/or opportunities of Defendant’s Website and its physical locations
under § 296(2) et seq. and/or its implementing regulations. Unless the Court enjoins
Defendant from continuing to engage in these unlawful practices, Plaintiff and the State
Sub-Class Members will continue to suffer irreparable harm.
78. Defendant’s actions were and are in violation of New York State Human
Rights Law and therefore Plaintiff invokes his right to injunctive relief to remedy the
discrimination.
79. Plaintiff is also entitled to compensatory damages, as well as civil penalties
and fines under N.Y. Exec. Law § 297(4)(c) et seq. for each and every offense.
-22-
80. Plaintiff is also entitled to reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs.
81. Under N.Y. Exec. Law § 297 and the remedies, procedures, and rights set
forth and incorporated therein Plaintiff prays for judgment as set forth below.
THIRD CAUSE OF ACTION

VIOLATION OF THE NEW YORK STATE CIVIL RIGHTS LAW
82. Plaintiff, on behalf of himself and the New York State Sub-Class Members,
herein.
83. Plaintiff served notice thereof upon the attorney general as required by N.Y.
Civil Rights Law § 41.
84. N.Y. Civil Rights Law § 40 provides that “all persons within the jurisdiction
of this state shall be entitled to the full and equal accommodations, advantages, facilities
and privileges of any places of public accommodations, resort or amusement, subject only
to the conditions and limitations established by law and applicable alike to all persons. No
persons, being the owner, lessee, proprietor, manager, superintendent, agent, or employee
of any such place shall directly or indirectly refuse, withhold from, or deny to any person
any of the accommodations, advantages, facilities and privileges thereof . . .”
85. N.Y. Civil Rights Law § 40-c(2) provides that “no person because of . . .
disability, as such term is defined in section two hundred ninety-two of executive law, be
subjected to any discrimination in his or her civil rights, or to any harassment, as defined
in section 240.25 of the penal law, in the exercise thereof, by any other person or by any
firm, corporation or institution, or by the state or any agency or subdivision.”
86. Defendant’s New York physical locations are public accommodations
within the definition of N.Y. Civil Rights Law § 40-c(2). Defendant’s Website is a service,
-23-
privilege or advantage of Defendant and its Website is a service that is heavily integrated
with these establishments and is a gateway thereto.
87. Defendant is subject to New York Civil Rights Law because it owns and
operates its physical locations and Website. Defendant is a person within the meaning of
N.Y. Civil Law § 40-c(2).
88. Defendant is violating N.Y. Civil Rights Law § 40-c(2) in refusing to update
or remove access barriers to its Website, causing its Website and the services integrated
with Defendant’s physical locations to be completely inaccessible to the blind. This
inaccessibility denies blind patrons full and equal access to the facilities, goods and
services that Defendant makes available to the non-disabled public.
89. N.Y. Civil Rights Law § 41 states that “any corporation which shall violate
any of the provisions of sections forty, forty-a, forty-b or forty two . . . shall for each and
every violation thereof be liable to a penalty of not less than one hundred dollars nor more
than five hundred dollars, to be recovered by the person aggrieved thereby . . .”
90. Under NY Civil Rights Law § 40-d, “any person who shall violate any of
the provisions of the foregoing section, or subdivision three of section 240.30 or section
240.31 of the penal law, or who shall aid or incite the violation of any of said provisions
shall for each and every violation thereof be liable to a penalty of not less than one hundred
dollars nor more than five hundred dollars, to be recovered by the person aggrieved thereby
in any court of competent jurisdiction in the county in which the defendant shall reside ...”
91. Defendant has failed to take any prompt and equitable steps to remedy its
-24-
against Plaintiff and New York State Sub-Class Members on the basis of disability are
being directly or indirectly refused, withheld from, or denied the accommodations,
advantages, facilities and privileges thereof in § 40 et seq. and/or its implementing
regulations.
93. Plaintiff is entitled to compensatory damages of five hundred dollars per
instance, as well as civil penalties and fines under N.Y. Civil Law § 40 et seq. for each and
every offense.
FOURTH CAUSE OF ACTION

VIOLATIONS OF THE REHABILITATION ACT of 1973, §504
94. Plaintiff, on behalf of himself and the Class Members, repeats and realleges
every allegation of the preceding paragraphs as if fully set forth herein.
95. 29 U.S.C. § 794(a) provides “No otherwise qualified individual with a
disability in the United States … shall, solely by reason of her or his disability, be excluded
from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any
program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance….”
96. 29 U.S.C. § 794(b) defines “program or activity” as “all operations
of…(2)(A) a college, university, or other postsecondary institution, or a public system of
education; or (B) a local educational agency…, system of career and technical education,
or other school system.”
97. Defendant receives Federal financial assistance.
98. Defendant’s operations, including its website, is a program or activity
within the meaning of 29 U.S.C. § 794.
99. The acts alleged herein constitute violations of THE REHABILITATION
-25-
ACT of 1973, § 504, and the regulations promulgated thereunder. Plaintiff, who is a
member of a protected class of persons under the RA, has a physical disability that
substantially limits the major life activity of sight within the meaning of 42 U.S.C. §§
12102(1)(A)-(2)(A). Furthermore, Plaintiff has been denied full and equal access to the
Website, has not been provided services that are provided to other patrons who are not
disabled, and has been provided services that are inferior to the services provided to non-
disabled persons. Defendant has failed to take any prompt and equitable steps to remedy
its discriminatory conduct. These violations are ongoing.
against Plaintiff and the Class Members on the basis of disability in the full and equal
enjoyment of the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, accommodations and/or
opportunities of Defendant’s Website and its physical locations under the RA and/or its
implementing regulations. Unless the Court enjoins Defendant from continuing to engage
in these unlawful practices, Plaintiff and the Class Members will continue to suffer
irreparable harm.
101. Defendant’s violations of Sec. 504 of the RA were intentional or with
deliberate indifference.
102. As a result of Defendant’s violations, Plaintiff is entitled to damages from
the Defendant.
FIFTH CAUSE OF ACTION

VIOLATIONS OF THE NYCHRL
103. Plaintiff, on behalf of himself and the New York City Sub-Class Members,
herein.
-26-
104. N.Y.C. Administrative Code § 8-107(4)(a) provides that “It shall be an
unlawful discriminatory practice for any person, being the owner, lessee, proprietor,
manager, superintendent, agent or employee of any place or provider of public
accommodation, because of . . . disability . . . directly or indirectly, to refuse, withhold
from or deny to such person, any of the accommodations, advantages, facilities or
privileges thereof.”
105. Defendant’s locations are public accommodations within the definition of
N.Y.C. Admin. Code § 8-102(9), and its Website is a service that is integrated with its
establishments.
106. Defendant is subject to NYCHRL because it owns and operates its physical
locations in the City of New York and its Website, making it a person within the meaning
of N.Y.C. Admin. Code § 8-102(1).
107. Defendant is violating N.Y.C. Administrative Code § 8-107(4)(a) in
refusing to update or remove access barriers to Website, causing its Website and the
services integrated with its physical locations to be completely inaccessible to the blind.
This inaccessibility denies blind patrons full and equal access to the facilities, goods, and
services that Defendant makes available to the non-disabled public.
108. Defendant is required to “make reasonable accommodation to the needs of
persons with disabilities . . . any person prohibited by the provisions of [§ 8-107 et seq.]
from discriminating on the basis of disability shall make reasonable accommodation to
enable a person with a disability to . . . enjoy the right or rights in question provided that
the disability is known or should have been known by the covered entity.” N.Y.C. Admin.
Code § 8-107(15)(a).
-27-
109. Defendant’s actions constitute willful intentional discrimination against the
City Sub-Class on the basis of a disability in violation of the N.Y.C. Administrative Code
§ 8-107(4)(a) and § 8-107(15)(a) in that Defendant has:
a. constructed and maintained a website that is inaccessible to blind
class members with knowledge of the discrimination; and/or
b. constructed and maintained a website that is sufficiently intuitive
and/or obvious that is inaccessible to blind class members; and/or
c. failed to take actions to correct these access barriers in the face of
substantial harm and discrimination to blind class members.
110. Defendant has failed to take any prompt and equitable steps to remedy their
111. As such, Defendant discriminates, and will continue in the future to
discriminate against Plaintiff and members of the proposed City Sub-class on the basis of
disability in the full and equal enjoyment of the goods, services, facilities, privileges,
advantages, accommodations and/or opportunities of its Website and its establishments
under § 8-107(4)(a) and/or its implementing regulations. Unless the Court enjoins
Defendant from continuing to engage in these unlawful practices, Plaintiff and members
of the City Sub-class will continue to suffer irreparable harm.
112. Defendant’s actions were and are in violation of the NYCHRL and therefore
Plaintiff invokes his right to injunctive relief to remedy the discrimination.
113. Plaintiff is also entitled to compensatory damages, as well as civil penalties
and fines under N.Y.C. Administrative Code § 8-120(8) and § 8-126(a) for each offense as
well as punitive damages pursuant to § 8-502(a).
-28-
114. Plaintiff is also entitled to reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs.
115. Under N.Y.C. Administrative Code § 8-120 and § 8-126 and the remedies,
procedures, and rights set forth and incorporated therein Plaintiff prays for judgment as set
forth below.
SIXTH CAUSE OF ACTION

DECLARATORY RELIEF
116. Plaintiff, on behalf of himself and the Class and New York State and City
Sub-Classes Members, repeats and realleges every allegation of the preceding paragraphs
as if fully set forth herein.
117. An actual controversy has arisen and now exists between the parties in that
Plaintiff contends, and is informed and believes that Defendant denies, that its Website
contains access barriers denying blind customers the full and equal access to the goods,
services and facilities of its Website and by extension its physical locations, which
Defendant owns, operates and controls and fails to comply with applicable laws including,
but not limited to, Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 12182, et
seq., N.Y. Exec. Law § 296, et seq., N.Y.C. Admin. Code § 8-107, et seq. and The
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, § 504 et seq. prohibiting discrimination against the blind.
118. A judicial declaration is necessary and appropriate at this time in order
that each of the parties may know their respective rights and duties and act accordingly.
PRAYER FOR RELIEF
WHEREFORE, Plaintiff respectfully requests this Court grant the following relief:
-29-
a. A preliminary and permanent injunction to prohibit Defendant from
violating the Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 12182, et seq., The
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. § 794 et seq. N.Y. Exec. Law § 296, et seq., N.Y.C.
Admin. Code § 8-107, et seq. and the laws of New York;
b. A preliminary and permanent injunction requiring Defendant to take
all the steps necessary to make its Website into full compliance with the requirements set
forth in the ADA and the RA, and its implementing regulations, so that the Website is
readily accessible to and usable by blind individuals;
c. A declaration that Defendant owns, maintains and/or operates its
Website in a manner that discriminates against the blind and which fails to provide access
for persons with disabilities as required by Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. §§
12182, et seq., The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. § 794 et seq., N.Y. Exec. Law §
296, et seq., N.Y.C. Admin. Code § 8-107, et seq. and the laws of New York
d. An order certifying the Class and the State and City Sub-Classes
under Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(a) & (b)(2) and/or (b)(3), appointing Plaintiff as Class
Representative, and his attorneys as Class Counsel;
e. Compensatory and damages in an amount to be determined by
proof, including all applicable statutory and punitive damages and fines, to Plaintiff and
the proposed class for violations of their civil rights under The Rehabilitation Act of 1973,
New York State Human Rights Law and City Law;
f. Pre- and post-judgment interest;
g. An award of costs and expenses of this action together with
reasonable attorneys’ and expert fees; and
-30-
h. Such other and further relief as this Court deems just and proper.
DEMAND FOR TRIAL BY JURY
Pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 38(b), Plaintiff demands a trial by jury on all questions
of fact the Complaint raises.
Dated: New York, New York

Nov. 17, 2018
GOTTLIEB & ASSOCIATES
s/ Jeffrey M. Gottlieb
Jeffrey M. Gottlieb
Jeffrey M. Gottlieb (JG-7905)

Dana L. Gottlieb (DG-6151)
GOTTLIEB & ASSOCIATES
150 East 18th Street, Suite PHR
New York, New York 10003
Tel: 212.228-9795
Fax: 212.982.6284
[email protected]
[email protected]
-31-

Camacho V ST Rose

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Camacho V ST Rose

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Camacho V ST Rose

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Case 1:18-cv-10764-ALC Document 1 Filed 11/17/18 Page 1 of 31

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

1. Plaintiff JASON CAMACHO, on behalf of himself and others similarly

2. Plaintiff is a visually-impaired and legally blind person who requires

3. Based on a 2010 U.S. Census Bureau report, approximately 8.1 million

visually impaired persons live in the State of New York.

(“ADA”) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (“RA”).

5. Because Defendant’s website, WWW.STROSE.EDU (the “Website” or

“Defendant’s website”), is not equally accessible to blind and visually-impaired

a change in Defendant’s corporate policies, practices, and procedures so that Defendant’s

JURISDICTION AND VENUE

1973, 29 U.S.C. §794.

7. This Court has supplemental jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1367 over

Defendant conducts and continues to conduct a substantial and significant amount of

substantial portion of the conduct complained of herein occurred in this District.

9. Defendant is subject to personal jurisdiction in this District. Defendant has

10. Defendant is a university, college or other institution of higher learning.

of Admissions) to various functions attended by prospective students such as high schools

and college fairs or exhibits.

11. Defendant regularly and systematically markets and solicits to prospective

and well known place of exhibition or entertainment, or convention center or place of

in 42 U.S.C. 12181 (7)(c) and (d).

13. The National Association of College Admissions Counseling (“NACAC”)

and continues to do so.

14. Defendant is a member institution of NACAC.

15. On Nov. 5, 2018, NACAC sponsored a college fair or exhibit at Javits at

City metropolitan area and the rest of New York State.

16. The Defendant’s actions of marketing and soliciting prospective students in

See, South Dakota v. Wayfair, 585 U.S. __, (6/21/18).

17. This Court is empowered to issue a declaratory judgment under 28 U.S.C.

§§ 2201 and 2202.

18. Plaintiff JASON CAMACHO, at all relevant times, is a resident of

Brooklyn, New York. Plaintiff is a blind, visually-impaired handicapped person and a

C.F.R. §104 et seq., and the NYSHRL.

website (WWW.STROSE.EDU) and advertises, markets, distributes, and/or provides

accommodation. Defendant’s school provides to the public important educational services.

Defendant’s Website provides consumers with access to an array of services including

about the Defendant’s school.

21. Defendant’s school is a public accommodation within the definition of Title

III of the ADA, 42 U.S.C. § 12181(7)(j). Defendant’s Website is a service, privilege, or

college fairs and operates as a gateway thereto.

refreshable Braille display. This technology is known as screen-reading software. Screen-

to create a better experience for low-vision or blind users.

24. Blind and visually-impaired users of Windows operating system-enabled

downloaded screen-reading software program available for a Windows computer.

25. For screen-reading software to function, the information on a website must

available to sighted users.

Content Accessibility Guidelines (“WCAG 2.0”). WCAG 2.0 are well-established

2.0 as the standard guideline for accessibility.

include, but are not limited to, the following:

a. A text equivalent for every non-text element is not provided;

c. Equivalent text is not provided when using scripts;

d. Forms with the same information and functionality as for sighted

persons are not provided;

e. Information about the meaning and structure of content is not

conveyed by more than the visual presentation of content;

f. Text cannot be resized without assistive technology up to 200%

without losing content or functionality;