--- title: Apple ADA Web Ruling Sets new standard for claims description: ADA lawsuits filed in New York increased in 2019 but a new ruling from the Southern District of New York could require more specificity from future claims. image: https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/GettyImages-957011890.jpg --- - [skip to menu](https://blog.usablenet.com/apple-ada-web-ruling-sets-new-standard-for-claims#nav) - [skip to content](https://blog.usablenet.com/apple-ada-web-ruling-sets-new-standard-for-claims#main-content) - [skip to footer](https://blog.usablenet.com/apple-ada-web-ruling-sets-new-standard-for-claims#footer) Test the accessibility of your website for free! Try UsableNet AQA. 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[Take our Quiz](https://info.usablenet.com/website-accessibility-remediation-quiz) - Resources ## Resources [E-books & Guides](https://usablenet.com/resources?contentType=E-books%20and%20Guides) [Case Studies](https://usablenet.com/resources?contentType=Case%20Studies) [Reports](https://usablenet.com/resources?contentType=Reports) [Webinars](https://usablenet.com/resources?contentType=Webinars) [Tools](https://usablenet.com/resources?contentType=Tools) [All Resources](https://usablenet.com/resources) ## Essential Resources [ADA accessibility lawsuit tracker](https://info.usablenet.com/ada-website-compliance-lawsuit-tracker?__hstc=181257784.2243d86205d8f41e204908d6f6578263.1725908600455.1736198093211.1736205902814.174&__hssc=181257784.1.1736205902814&__hsfp=3011104808) [Checklist: how to achieve and maintain digital accessibility](https://info.usablenet.com/digital-website-accessibility-checklist?__hstc=181257784.2243d86205d8f41e204908d6f6578263.1725908600455.1736198093211.1736205902814.174&__hssc=181257784.1.1736205902814&__hsfp=3011104808) [Which remediation approach is right for me?](https://info.usablenet.com/website-accessibility-remediation-quiz?__hstc=181257784.2243d86205d8f41e204908d6f6578263.1725908600455.1736198093211.1736205902814.174&__hssc=181257784.1.1736205902814&__hsfp=3011104808) [A Primer on ADA and Digital Accessibility](https://info.usablenet.com/a-primer-on-ada-and-digital-accessibility?__hstc=181257784.2243d86205d8f41e204908d6f6578263.1725908600455.1736198093211.1736205902814.174&__hssc=181257784.1.1736205902814&__hsfp=3011104808) The EAA is in Effect — Is Your Website Compliant? 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On March 28th, Judge Preska dismissed the class action suit brought by a legally blind woman against Apple Inc for discrimination based on Website accessibility in Himelda Diaz v. Apple, Inc., 18-cv-07550 (LAP) (S.D.N.Y. March 28, 2019). Himelda Diaz is legally blind consumer who uses screen reader software to access websites like Apple Inc. She filed a complaint against Apple, Inc in 2018. Allegedly, the plaintiff could not use the Apple Inc’s website with her screen reader and by extension, was prevented from shopping in Apple stores. In a ruling that could bring short term relief to business owners facing similar Website Accessibility cases, Judge Preska dismissed the complaint based on a lack of detail that did not sufficiently plead an injury, saying “the purported injuries described lack all the requisite specificity.”  ## **Why was the case DismisseD?** In her ten-page decision to dismiss the case, Judget Preska explained, “Plaintiff does not give a date that she tried to access the physical store or what good or service she was prevented from purchasing. She does not identify sections of the website she tried to access but could not. Finally, while general barriers are listed, she does not allege which one of them prevented her from accessing the store.” This lack of specificity was increasingly common in many of the over 2250 ADA Web Accessibility Law Suits filed in 2018 and in some cases, allows plaintiff law firms to file a series of similar claims at one time. [![Download the full 2018 report here >>](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3280432/cc0c65c4-75f2-47a1-b36f-cc780ffa74ff.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3280432/cc0c65c4-75f2-47a1-b36f-cc780ffa74ff) ## **What Does this Mean for Future claims?** The Apple ruling could mean a slight reduction in the number of Web accessibility cases filed in New York if plaintiff lawyers slow the filings to add more specificity to claims. Even so, New York led the country for the most web accessibility cases filed in 2018, with 64% of lawsuits. Even with the ruling from the Apple case, companies that have received Web Accessibility claim, settled them and even begun remediation should not expect a reduction in multiple follow on claims from other individuals, [a 2018 ADA legal trend that continues in Q1 of 2019](https://blog.usablenet.com/ada-based-web-accessibility-claims-continue-record-breaking-rise). While the Apple case may require more specificity from plaintiffs for cases filed in New York, it does not remove the responsibility of companies to make websites and [mobile apps accessible](https://blog.usablenet.com/the-first-2019-mobile-app-ada-claim-is-likely-to-be-the-first-of-many) to users of all abilities. If your website is available to customers, it is essential that you proactively evaluate it for accessibility. UsableNet provides both a technical way to test and document a site using screen readers along with a service where users from the disability community can test and report that your site is working well. [UsableNet’s AQA solution](https://usablenet.com/technology/aqa) is a good resource for companies to use to start testing. [![Trying to make your website accessible? Find out how UsableNet AQA can make the process easier in this video](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3280432/fe595cbe-76f1-42ac-afd8-16e12a8d9311.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3280432/fe595cbe-76f1-42ac-afd8-16e12a8d9311) ![Jason Taylor, Chief Innovation Strategist](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/Reuploads%20-%20SEO/Jason%20Taylor.png) ### [Jason Taylor, Chief Innovation Strategist](https://blog.usablenet.com/author/jason-taylor) Jason C. Taylor is the Chief Innovation Strategist and Advisor to the UsableNet CEO with over 20 years of experience in usability and accessibility. Jason is a global technology thought leader for multichannel customer engagement, actively advising leading companies on how to extend their brands across multiple channels for all users. He has been an active member of the accessibility and usability communities since 2001, which started with leading partnerships between UsableNet, Macromedia (now Adobe), and The Nielsen Norman Group. - - - - ### Related posts ![Hotel Website Accessibility: Check-in, Messaging, and In-Stay Barriers for Blind Guests](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/Beachside-min.jpg) [Hotel Website Accessibility: Check-in, Messaging, and In-Stay Barriers for Blind Guests](https://blog.usablenet.com/hotel-website-accessibility-check-in-and-in-stay-barriers-for-blind-guests) Jul 15, 2026 ![Hotel Website Accessibility: Browsing Room Options](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/Beachside-min.jpg) [Hotel Website Accessibility: Browsing Room Options](https://blog.usablenet.com/hotel-website-accessibility-browsing-room-options) Jul 14, 2026 ![Inside the 2026 Midyear Numbers: The ADA continues to be the ONLY true enforcement around](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/Registration%20-%20Midyear%20Report.png) [Inside the 2026 Midyear Numbers: The ADA continues to be the ONLY true enforcement around](https://blog.usablenet.com/inside-the-2026-midyear-numbers-where-digital-accessibility-litigation-is-going) Jul 8, 2026 ![The Low-Cost Moves That Strengthen an ADA Website Defense](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/The%20Low-Cost%20Moves%20That%20Strengthen%20an%20ADA%20Website%20Defense.png) [The Low-Cost Moves That Strengthen an ADA Website Defense](https://blog.usablenet.com/the-low-cost-moves-that-strengthen-an-ada-website-defense) Jun 16, 2026 ### Sign Up for the UsableNet Blog ### Recent Posts ![feature image](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/Beachside-min.jpg) [Hotel Website Accessibility: Check-in, Messaging, and In-Stay Barriers for Blind Guests](https://blog.usablenet.com/hotel-website-accessibility-check-in-and-in-stay-barriers-for-blind-guests) Jul 15, 2026 ![feature image](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/Beachside-min.jpg) [Hotel Website Accessibility: Browsing Room Options](https://blog.usablenet.com/hotel-website-accessibility-browsing-room-options) Jul 14, 2026 ![feature image](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/Registration%20-%20Midyear%20Report.png) [Inside the 2026 Midyear Numbers: The ADA continues to be the ONLY true enforcement around](https://blog.usablenet.com/inside-the-2026-midyear-numbers-where-digital-accessibility-litigation-is-going) Jul 8, 2026 ### Posts by Topic - [Web Accessibility (311)](https://blog.usablenet.com/topic/web-accessibility) - [User Experience (113)](https://blog.usablenet.com/topic/user-experience) - [ADA Lawsuits (45)](https://blog.usablenet.com/topic/ada-lawsuits) - [ADA Website Compliance (38)](https://blog.usablenet.com/topic/ada-website-compliance) - [European Accessibility Act (34)](https://blog.usablenet.com/topic/european-accessibility-act) - [Mobile Web (30)](https://blog.usablenet.com/topic/mobile-web) - [Mobile Apps (27)](https://blog.usablenet.com/topic/mobile-apps) - [Retail (27)](https://blog.usablenet.com/topic/retail) ![](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/Consultation%20Icon.svg) Need to improve digital usability, accessibility or performance? 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