Reactions Around the Web
"Supreme Court Won't Hear Domino's Pizza Website Access Dispute," Bloomberg News explains in the expert below.
The case could help determine the extent to which businesses must make their websites and apps accessible to the blind and visually impaired—a question that’s at the center of hundreds of federal complaints every year. Plaintiffs have filed nearly 600 website accessibility complaints this year under the ADA against companies such as Activision Blizzard Inc. and Ralph Lauren Corp., according to Bloomberg Law data.
Courts have split over whether the ADA applies to websites. The Justice Department hasn’t issued regulations clarifying companies’ online accessibility obligations under the law.
Many headlines called the decision a win for the people like USA Today who declared, "Victory for disability advocates: Supreme Court won't hear Domino's Pizza accessibility case."
Prominent Disability Rights Attorney Lainey Feingold agreed when sharing the news on Twitter and linking to her popular blog with previous recaps of the case.
"Big court win today for digital accessibility. Ninth Circuit federal Court of Appeals (U.S.) rules for #blind plaintiff in Domino's Pizza case. Another court says ADA covers web and mobile."
News outlets also focused on the potential blow to Domino's and other businesses who are often caught unaware when they receive an ADA Website lawsuit.
"Supreme Court Allows Blind People to Sue Retailers if their Websites are not Accessible," declared a headline in the Los Angeles Times that was picked up by several other outlets.
Last year retailers made up 38% of suits and early data from 2019 shows this trend continues, with retailers being more likely to be sued multiple times. (If you are concerned about ADA Compliance; Download UsableNet's guide to Accessibility for Retailers here).
The Los Angeles Times article by Staff Writer, David Savage, shares reactions from all sides.
Joseph R. Manning Jr., a Newport Beach lawyer who represented Robles, said the high court made “the right call. There can be no debate that the blind and visually impaired require accessible websites and mobile apps to function on an equal footing in the modern world.”
Mark Whitley, president of Easterseals Southern California, praised the high court for “supporting the values ... the ADA was built upon.”
Domino’s and the National Retail Federation issued statements saying they were disappointed in the court’s refusal to hear the case. The 9th Circuit sent the case back to a district judge in Los Angeles to decide whether Robles suffered discrimination.
“We look forward to presenting our case at the trial court. We also remain steadfast in our belief in the need for federal standards for everyone to follow in making their websites and mobile apps accessible,” Domino’s said its statement.