A visually-impaired individual has taken legal action against a California-based company for allegedly failing to make its website accessible to blind and visually-impaired users. Michael Sandoval filed the complaint on May 2, 2025, in the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles, accusing Canna River LLC of violating the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and California’s Unruh Civil Rights Act by not ensuring its website is usable by those who rely on screen-reading software.
The lawsuit details how Sandoval, who is legally blind and requires screen-reading software to navigate websites, encountered numerous barriers when attempting to access Canna River's online platform. According to the complaint, these barriers included unlabeled graphics and buttons, insufficient navigational headings, and an inaccessible order system that prevented him from placing orders for pick-up at the company's physical location in Thousand Oaks, California. Sandoval claims these issues deny him full and equal access to Canna River's products and services both online and at their brick-and-mortar locations.
Sandoval argues that under the ADA, businesses must ensure their websites are fully accessible as they are considered extensions of their physical services. The complaint highlights that there are established guidelines for making websites accessible to visually-impaired individuals using screen-reading software. Despite this, Sandoval alleges that Canna River has failed to implement such measures or make necessary modifications to its website policies and practices.
The plaintiff seeks a permanent injunction requiring Canna River to alter its corporate policies so that its website becomes accessible to all users who require screen-reading software. Additionally, Sandoval requests statutory damages under the Unruh Civil Rights Act for each offense and coverage of reasonable attorney fees and litigation costs. The lawsuit emphasizes that without court intervention, visually-impaired consumers will continue facing discrimination due to inaccessible digital content.
Representing Michael Sandoval is Joseph R. Manning Jr., Esq., from Manning Law APC. The case is presided over by Judge K. Biker under Case No. 2025 CUICRO43554 in the Superior Court of California.