The High Risk of Digital Accessibility Failure: No Sector or Size is Exempt

Despite growing awareness of the need for digital accessibility, many organizations still overlook it, resulting in lawsuits, reputational damage, and financial penalties. No company is immune to the risk of failing to meet accessibility standards.

Breakdown of Lawsuits by State in June 2025

• New York: 185 lawsuits

• California: 25 lawsuits

• Florida: 42 lawsuits

• Other States: 53 lawsuits

In June 2025, a total of 305 digital accessibility lawsuits were filed across the United States. New York, California, and Florida led the nation in the number of lawsuits, emphasizing the widespread nature of this issue. These numbers demonstrate the growing legal focus on ensuring online platforms are accessible to all users.

Industry Distribution of Lawsuits

The majority of these lawsuits targeted the e-commerce sector, accounting for 69% of the cases; however, other industries were also affected.

• E-commerce: 69%

• Food Services: 18%

• Healthcare: 4%

• Fitness & Wellness: 3%

• Education: 2%

• Others: 1%

The diversity of industries impacted shows that no sector is exempt from scrutiny. All businesses must take the necessary steps to ensure their websites provide equal access to users with disabilities, or they risk facing costly legal challenges.

Major Brands Are Not Exempt

Even well-known global brands are facing digital accessibility lawsuits. For example, Jo Malone Inc. (JoMalone.com), known for luxury fragrances, was sued for failing to make its website accessible. Similarly, Shake Shack (ShakeShack.com) faced legal issues over the same concerns. These cases serve as a reminder that large corporations need to continually assess and improve their digital accessibility to avoid legal risks and reputational damage.

Small Businesses Are Equally At Risk

Small businesses are also targeted by accessibility lawsuits. The Meatball Shop (themeatballshop.com) in New York and Urbane Café (urbanecafe.com) in California have both faced legal action for inaccessible websites. These examples prove that smaller companies are not immune to the consequences of neglecting digital accessibility. All businesses, regardless of their size, must ensure their online platforms are accessible to avoid legal action and better serve their customers.

Diverse Industries Must Adapt

The need for accessible websites extends beyond retail and food. Infiniwell, Inc. (Infiniwell.com), a pharmaceutical company, faced a lawsuit for not meeting accessibility standards. Non-profit organizations like Palm Beach Ice Works (PBIW.org) and financial institutions such as Charles Schwab (Schwab.com) are also being held accountable for their digital accessibility practices. These cases show that every industry—from healthcare to finance—must address accessibility to ensure their websites are inclusive and legally compliant.

A Trend That’s Here to Stay?

The data from June 2025 underscores a critical point: digital accessibility is a widespread issue affecting businesses across the United States. As this trend continues to grow, all businesses must take action to protect themselves. Digital accessibility is here to stay, and as more companies take proactive measures to avoid legal pitfalls, the hope is that the trend of being sued will begin to decline.

What You Can Do to Protect Your Business

Start by understanding your ADA exposure. It's FREE, immediate, and you don't even need to provide your email address. Enter your website URL at aaatraq.com/checker and begin prioritizing accessibility and inclusivity today.

If you are curious which other companies were sued in June, download the June 2025 Lawsuit Data (Excel) here: https://aaatraq.com/media/resource_docs/Lawsuits_June_2025.xlsx (opens in a new window)

Source: Data compiled from information available at https://www.accessibility.com/digital-lawsuits (opens in a new window)