Darnell Williams v. Rowing Blazers Ltd. - E-Commerce Website Accessibility

Darnell Williams, a visually impaired individual, filed a class action lawsuit against Rowing Blazers Ltd. on October 24, 2025, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. The case is presided over by Honorable Judge John Robert Blakey. Williams alleges that Rowing Blazers' website (www.rowingblazers.com) is inaccessible to blind and visually impaired users, violating Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act. He encountered significant barriers while attempting to purchase a shirt from the preppy-inspired apparel retailer, including: - Navigation difficulties that prevented independent browsing - Issues completing transactions and checkout processes - Inability to access product information and descriptions - Screen reader incompatibility with website elements The lawsuit is filed as a proposed class action on behalf of all legally blind individuals in the United States who have attempted to access rowingblazers.com and were denied access to the enjoyment of goods and services offered on the website during the relevant statutory period. Williams, represented by Equal Access Law Group, PLLC, has filed similar accessibility lawsuits against other companies including Alphalete Athletics, LLC and Lowa Boots, LLC. Causes of Action: - Violation of 42 U.S.C. §§ 12181 et seq. – Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act - Declaratory Relief - Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress