In a significant legal filing, a visually-impaired individual has taken action against a California corporation for failing to make its website accessible to blind and visually-impaired users. On February 26, 2025, Perla Mageno filed a complaint in the Superior Court of California, County of Ventura, against Pineda’s Corporation. The lawsuit alleges violations of both the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and California's Unruh Civil Rights Act due to the inaccessibility of the company's website.
Perla Mageno, who is legally blind and relies on screen-reading software (SRS) to access digital content, claims that Pineda’s Corporation has not designed or maintained its website in a manner that allows full and equal access for visually-impaired individuals. According to the complaint, Mageno encountered numerous barriers while attempting to use the website, such as unlabeled graphics and buttons, inaccessible menus, and insufficient navigational headings. These barriers prevented her from independently accessing information about products and services offered by Pineda’s Corporation both online and at their physical locations.
The plaintiff argues that these accessibility issues constitute discrimination under the ADA, which mandates that places of public accommodation provide equal access to all individuals regardless of disability. The complaint further asserts that by maintaining an inaccessible website, Pineda’s Corporation is also violating California's Unruh Civil Rights Act. This state law guarantees equal access to accommodations and services for people with disabilities.
Mageno is seeking several forms of relief from the court. She requests a declaratory judgment stating that Pineda’s Corporation's current website practices are discriminatory under both federal and state laws. Additionally, she seeks injunctive relief requiring the company to modify its website policies and procedures to ensure accessibility for blind users—specifically limiting these modifications' costs to $50,000 or less. Furthermore, Mageno is pursuing statutory damages amounting to no more than $24,999 per offense along with reasonable attorney fees.
Representing Perla Mageno in this case is Joseph R. Manning Jr., Esq., from Manning Law APC. The case was filed under Case No.: 2025CUCRO3927 in front of the Superior Court of California in Ventura County.