CLEARWATER – A blind jobseeker alleges a company's website is not configured for software used by the visually impaired.
Leonardo A. Banes filed a complaint on May 29 in the 6th Judicial Circuit of Florida - Pinellas County against Lincare Holdings Inc. alleging violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff uses a screen reader when operating a computer to read the text displayed on a screen. He alleges he cannot navigate the defendant's website to apply for jobs because it is not configured for screen readers to navigate. He alleges his counsel contacted the defendant twice regarding the issue and did not get a response.
The plaintiff holds Lincare Holdings Inc. responsible because the defendant allegedly failed and reversed to engage in an interactive process with him to remediate the barriers so he could access the website and failed to properly accommodate him.
The plaintiff seeks compensatory damages of more than $15,000, exclusive of interest, court costs, attorney's fees and such other relief the court deems just and proper. He is represented by Benjamin H. Brodsky and Jason B. Sherry of Brodsky Fotiu-Wojtowicz PLLC in Miami.
6th Judicial Circuit of Florida - Pinellas County case number 18-003499