United States Legal Updates

The articles linked on this page are about the law in the United States as it relates to the ability of disabled people to participate in the digital world (digital accessibility). Articles are listed in chronological order based on the date it was written or last updated. Most recent articles and updates appear first. You will find cases about web and mobile access, about kiosks, voting machines, ATMs and other tech.

There is also information about lawsuits, settlements, Structured Negotiation results, and laws. The articles are about Lainey Feingold’s work and the work of other lawyers, clients, organizations, and government agencies. If you are looking only for Lainey Feingold's cases, please visit the Settlements page.

Basic information about laws and policies in the United States can be found on the LFLegal Global Law and Policy page, which also includes resources about digital accessibility law and policy around the globe. Federal (national) accessibility laws can be found here. Information about state and local digital accessibility laws can be found here.

All these articles are for your informational only. They are not legal advice. If you think you have a specific legal question you should contact a lawyer.

Potholes of Discrimination: A Post-CSUN Legal Update Wrap-Up

Posted on Updated on September 29, 2020
For the eighteenth year, last week I joined thousands of people committed to digital accessibility at the annual CSUN Assistive Technology Conference.  And as has been the case for the past many years, there was a growing interest in the digital accessibility legal landscape. This post offers more detailed information about some of the topics covered in the CSUN 2018 legal updates, which this year were repeated three times. Read more… Potholes of Discrimination: A Post-CSUN Legal Update Wrap-Up

Digital Access Legal Update – December 2016

Posted on Updated on September 28, 2020
This post includes legal developments about digital accessibility between May 8, 2016 and December 12, 2016. This is the final update during the Obama administration, an eight year period that has seen an explosion of legal activity by the federal government advancing digital accessibility. I wrote two pieces about how I think the election will impact the legal push for digital accessibility. Read more… Digital Access Legal Update – December 2016

March 2017 Digital Accessibility Legal Update

Posted on Updated on September 28, 2020
This post includes legal developments about digital accessibility between December 13, 2016 and March 6, 2017. It supplements Lainey Feingold’s digital accessibility legal update presentations, including the legal update sessions at the 2017 CSUN Assistive Technology Conference. The series is illustrated by a toolbox because law has proven an effective tool to improve the accessibility and usability of digital content, print information and technology for everyone. There are many ways to use the law, reflected by the many tools in the toolbox and by the updates in this post. Read more… March 2017 Digital Accessibility Legal Update

Digital Accessibility Legal Update (December 2014)

Posted on Updated on September 21, 2020
This post is about recent legal developments in the United States impacting technology and information access for people with disabilities. It contains developments ocurring between July 16 and December 15, 2014 and is part of an occasional series. The series is illustrated by a toolbox — because law has proven an effective tool in improving the accessibility and usability of digital content, print information and technology for everyone. There are many ways to use the law, reflected by the many tools in the toolbox. Read more… Digital Accessibility Legal Update (December 2014)

Digital Accessibility Legal Update: ADA Anniversary Edition

Posted on Updated on August 31, 2020
[This post updated August 2020] July 26 marks the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The ADA was passed just one year after Sir Tim Berners-Lee invented the world wide web. In 1990 when then-president George Bush signed the law there were exactly zero websites. Two years later there were ten. And today? Over 1,786,367, 115. Because of the brilliance of the disability organizers and bill drafters, the ADA has provided a strong foundation for advancing accessibility in the digital world. Read more… Digital Accessibility Legal Update: ADA Anniversary Edition

Big Win for Web Accessibility in Domino’s Pizza Case

Posted on Updated on October 7, 2019
[UPDATE: On October 7, 2019 the United States Supreme Court announced it would not hear, would not rule on, the Domino’s case. On June 13, 2019 Domino’s asked the United States Supreme Court to hear this case and reverse this decision. Read the October 7, 2019 post on this website about the Supreme Court’s announcement.]… Read more… Big Win for Web Accessibility in Domino’s Pizza Case

U.S. Supreme Court Won’t Hear The Domino’s Case (Hooray!)

Posted on
Great news for advocates of digital inclusion for people with disabilities! Today the United States Supreme Court rejected Domino’s Pizza’s efforts to overturn the Ninth Circuit federal appeals court opinion in the Domino’s web and mobile accessibility case. That appeals court opinion said that disabled people can bring claims under the Americans with Disabilities Act if a website or mobile application is not accessible. Read more… U.S. Supreme Court Won’t Hear The Domino’s Case (Hooray!)

Ethics in the Digital Accessibility Legal Space: ADA Enforcement Cases or Something Else?

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A 177% jump in the number of web accessibility lawsuits filed in federal court over two years. A handful of lawyers filing hundreds of cases, settling quickly, with no public statement about any accessibility improvements. Industry associations looking to roll-back the ADA, state legislatures limiting the right to sue about digital accessibility. So called experts… Read more… Ethics in the Digital Accessibility Legal Space: ADA Enforcement Cases or Something Else?

Big Win for Blind Shopper in First U.S. ADA Web Accessibility Trial

Posted on Updated on July 23, 2019
[UPDATE: The Winn-Dixie case is currently on appeal to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeal] On June 13, a judge in the federal District Court in South Florida made history. That history came in the form of a court order in a lawsuit filed by blind Florida resident Juan Carlos Gil against regional grocer Winn-Dixie.… Read more… Big Win for Blind Shopper in First U.S. ADA Web Accessibility Trial