A visually impaired individual has taken legal action against a well-known coffee company, alleging its website is inaccessible to those with disabilities. Camille Winfield-Newton filed the complaint in the Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco, on April 7, 2025, targeting Ritual Coffee Roasters, Inc. for failing to make its online services accessible to blind and visually impaired users.
The lawsuit highlights Winfield-Newton's struggle as a legally blind person who relies on screen-reading software to navigate websites. She claims that Ritual Coffee Roasters' website is not compatible with such technology, thereby violating the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), California's Unruh Civil Rights Act, and the California Disabled Persons Act. According to the complaint, "Being unable to access websites puts individuals at a great disadvantage in today’s society," emphasizing the critical nature of web accessibility in an increasingly digital world.
Winfield-Newton recounts her experience attempting to purchase coffee from Ritual Coffee Roasters' website on March 19, 2025. Despite her efforts, she encountered numerous barriers that prevented her from completing her purchase. The complaint details several issues such as improper heading hierarchy and ambiguous link texts that hindered her ability to navigate the site effectively. These barriers are described as violations of established web accessibility guidelines known as WCAG 2.2.
The plaintiff seeks a permanent injunction requiring Ritual Coffee Roasters to make their website fully accessible by engaging a qualified consultant and implementing necessary changes. This includes regular audits and training for employees involved in web development. Additionally, Winfield-Newton requests statutory damages under California law and compensation for attorney fees.
Representing Winfield-Newton is Andrew J. Gramajo from AJG Law Group, PC., while the case has been assigned Case No.: CGC-25-624131 in the Superior Court of California for San Francisco County.