EcomBack ADA Website Lawsuits Report From January to March 2025

983 ADA website lawsuits were filed in Q1 of 2025

Map of the United States of America showing ADA lawsuits, for more info check the image description below.

Number of lawsuits from January to March 2025: New York, 369, Florida 226, California 144, Illinois 111, Minnesota 39, Pennsylvania 24, and other States 70.

Executive Summary

In the first quarter of 2025, 983 ADA website accessibility lawsuits were filed across the United States—marking a 25.3% increase from 785 lawsuits filed in Q1 2024. This rise highlights the ongoing legal pressure on businesses to ensure their websites meet accessibility standards. While New York, Florida, and California continue to lead in lawsuit volume, emerging states like Illinois and Minnesota have shown a noticeable uptick in filings, signaling a broader geographic reach of ADA enforcement. The overall volume reflects sustained legal activity, largely driven by a small number of highly active plaintiffs and law firms.

  • New York, Florida, and California were the most active states, accounting for over 75.18% of all filings.
  • A total of 149 plaintiffs initiated lawsuits, with just 27 plaintiffs responsible for over half of all filings (51.78%).
  • Similarly, 10 law firms filed 81.28% of all lawsuits, with Gottlieb & Associates and Manning Law, APC leading in volume.
  • The Fashion, Food, Beauty, and Health industries were the most targeted, making up over 75% of the total litigation activity. Lawsuits affected websites built on popular platforms, including Shopify, WordPress, Magento, and custom-coded sites, proving that compliance challenges span all technologies.
  • Notably, 199 lawsuits were filed against websites using accessibility widgets, continuing the trend of scrutiny toward overlay solutions.
  • A $1M FTC settlement in January 2025 against a major AI widget provider further highlighted the risks of relying solely on automated tools for compliance.

Overall, Q1 2025 demonstrates that website accessibility litigation remains highly active, highly concentrated, and increasingly nuanced. Businesses should treat accessibility not just as a legal requirement, but as a strategic priority—one that demands expert-led, code-based solutions rather than superficial fixes.

State-Wise ADA Website Lawsuits From January to March 2025

ADA Website Lawsuits Filed by State January - March 2025​
State Name Total Lawsuits Percentage January February March
New York 369 37.54% 128 127 114
Florida 226 22.99% 62 57 107
California 144 14.65% 43 56 45
Illinois 111 11.29% 41 42 28
Minnesota 39 3.97% 11 12 16
Pennsylvania 24 2.44% 4 20 0
All Other States 70 7.12% 28 22 20
Total ADA Lawsuits Filed 983 100% 317 336 330

Between January and March 2025, a total of 983 ADA website accessibility lawsuits were filed across the United States. The majority of cases were concentrated in a few key states, with New York, Florida, and California accounting for nearly 75% of all filings.

  • New York led all states with 369 lawsuits, representing 37.54% of the total. The state saw relatively consistent monthly activity, with filings spread evenly across all three months.
  • Florida followed with 226 lawsuits (22.99%), including a significant spike in March, which recorded 107 filings—nearly half of the state’s total for the quarter.
  • California recorded 144 lawsuits (14.65%), showing steady filing patterns throughout the quarter.
  • Los Angeles County accounted for 65.28% of all ADA website lawsuits filed in California, highlighting its role as the state’s primary litigation hub.
  • Illinois registered 111 lawsuits (11.29%), placing it among the top four states.
  • Minnesota and Pennsylvania reported 39 and 24 lawsuits, respectively.
  • The remaining 70 lawsuits (7.12%) came from a mix of other states.

This distribution highlights the continued legal pressure in historically active jurisdictions like New York and Florida, while also signaling growing ADA litigation in states such as Illinois and Minnesota.

Here is the chart summarizing the number of ADA website lawsuits filed by state in Q1 2025. It visually reinforces New York, Florida, and California as the top three states for litigation activity.

ADA Website Lawsuits Filed by State: Q1 2024 vs. Q1 2025

Bar chart of ADA lawsuits, comparing 2024 and 2025 figures, for more information check the image description below.

Bar chart comparing the number of ADA website lawsuits filed in the first quarter of 2024 and 2025 across several U.S. states, including New York, California, Florida, and others. Each state is represented with two bars.

The state-wise comparison of ADA website lawsuits filed in Q1 2025 versus Q1 2024 reveals notable shifts in litigation patterns. While traditional hotspots like New York and California saw modest declines, states like Florida, Minnesota, and especially Illinois experienced sharp increases, signaling changing enforcement landscapes and new areas of legal activity.

  • New York: Lawsuits dropped from 433 in Q1 2024 to 369 in Q1 2025 — a decrease of 64 cases (14.78%).
  • California: Slight decline from 163 to 144 cases — down by 19 lawsuits (11.66%).
  • Florida: Significant increase from 129 to 226 lawsuits — a rise of 97 cases (75.19%).
  • Pennsylvania: Relatively stable, with a small drop from 21 to 24 lawsuits.
  • Minnesota: Increased from 20 to 39 cases — almost doubled, showing a 95% surge.
  • Illinois: Saw a major rise from 12 to 111 cases — an increase of 825%, marking its emergence as a high-risk state.
  • Other States: Lawsuits rose significantly from just 7 in Q1 2024 to 70 in Q1 2025, reflecting a sharp increase and growing ADA activity beyond historically dominant regions.

Conclusion

While New York, Florida, and California remain the leading states for ADA website lawsuits, new litigation trends are emerging beyond these traditional hotspots. In particular, Minnesota and Illinois are drawing attention due to increased legal activity. Minnesota saw 39 lawsuits in the first quarter alone—an uptick potentially influenced by recent legal clarity from the Minnesota Supreme Court, which ruled that websites can be considered public accommodations under the ADA. Similarly, Illinois recorded 111 lawsuits, marking it as a rapidly developing jurisdiction in digital accessibility enforcement.

These shifts suggest that ADA website litigation is expanding in scope, both geographically and in interpretation. Businesses operating in emerging states should take proactive steps toward accessibility compliance to mitigate legal exposure and align with evolving legal expectations.

For more insights, see: Minnesota Court Ruling: Websites as Public Accommodations

Over 50% of ADA Website Lawsuits Filed by 27 Plaintiffs

Overview

In the first quarter of 2025, 149 plaintiffs filed a total of 983 ADA website lawsuits. Notably, just 27 plaintiffs were responsible for 509 lawsuits, accounting for 51.78% of all filings. This consistent concentration among a small group of high-frequency filers continues to shape the ADA litigation landscape.

Over 50% of ADA website lawsuits filed by only 27 plaintiffs
Plaintiff Name Firm Name January to March Percentage January February March
Michael Sandoval Manning Law, APC 57 5.80% 15 11 31
Julie Dalton Throndset Michenfelder Law Office, LLC 34 3.46% 8 10 16
Nelson Fernandez Alberto R. Leal, Esq., P.A. 29 2.75% 7 8 12
Nicholas Pagan Alberto R. Leal, Esq., P.A 27 2.75% 7 8 12
Perla Mageno Manning Law, APC 25 2.54% 8 13 4
Oscar Herrera Roderick V. Hannah, Esq., P.A. 22 2.24% 10 0 12
Rebecca Castillo Manning Law, APC 21 2.14% 5 12 4
Jacqueline Fernandez Stein Saks, PLLC 19 1.93% 10 4 5
Victor Ariza Roderick V. Hannah, Esq., P.A. 19 1.93% 3 5 11
Mykayla Fagnani Gottlieb & Associates 18 1.83% 6 12 0
Andre Battle Horowitz Law, PLLC 18 1.83% 3 9 6
Henry Tucker Gottlieb & Associates 16 1.63% 14 2 0
Alfred Trippett Gabriel A. Levy, P.C. 16 1.63% 9 7 0
Yudy Hernandez Adams & Associates, P.A. 16 1.63% 4 7 5
Leshawn Young Gottlieb & Associates 16 1.63% 9 7 0
Timothy Hernandez Stein Saks, PLLC 15 1.53% 0 9 6
Edery Herrera Gottlieb & Associates 15 1.53% 0 2 13
Robert Glen Myers ADA Legal Team, LLC 14 1.42% 11 3 0
Frangie Espinal Gottlieb & Associates 14 1.42% 0 0 14
Windy Lucius J. Courtney Cunningham, PLLC 13 1.32% 5 0 8
Constance Henry Asher Cohen PLLC 13 1.32% 11 2 0
Amanie Riley Asher Cohen PLLC 13 1.32% 10 3 0
Enrique Alvear Roderick V. Hannah, Esq., P.A. 13 1.32% 0 13 0
Simon Isakov Equal Access Law Group PLLC 12 1.22% 0 3 9
Abdurazak Abdu Equal Access Law Group PLLC 12 1.22% 0 0 12
Haron Cole Asher Cohen PLLC 11 1.12% 7 4 0
Leah Walker Asher Cohen PLLC 11 1.12% 9 2 0
27 Plaintiffs Filed 51.78% ADA Lawsuits in Q1 of 2025 509 51.78% 173 158 178
122 Plaintiffs Collectively Filed 48.22% ADA Lawsuits in Q1 of 2025 474 48.22% 144 178 152
149 Plaintiffs Filed 983 Website ADA Lawsuits in Q1 of 2025 983 100% 317 336 330

Top 5 Plaintiffs
194 Cases – 19.74%

Top 10 Plaintiffs
271 Cases – 27.57%

Top 20 Plaintiffs
424 Cases – 43.13%

Top 50 Plaintiffs
702 Cases – 71.41%

Highlighting the key contributors:

  • Michael Sandoval (Manning Law, APC) was the most active plaintiff, filing 57 lawsuits, with a significant spike in March (31 filings).
  • Julie Dalton (Throndset Michenfelder Law Office, LLC) followed with 34 lawsuits, showing steady monthly activity.
  • Nelson Fernandez, Nicholas Pagan, and Perla Mageno each filed over 25 lawsuits, keeping them among the top five filers this quarter.
  • Oscar Herrera and Victor Ariza (both represented by Roderick V. Hannah, Esq., P.A.) maintained strong activity, with filings concentrated in January and March.
  • Jacqueline Fernandez and Timothy Hernandez (linked to Stein Saks, PLLC) also remained active, continuing their role in serial ADA litigation.
  • A significant number of top plaintiffs focused their filings within a single month—such as Frangie Espinal (14 lawsuits in March) and Enrique Alvear (13 lawsuits in February)—suggesting strategic filing patterns often associated with specific firms.This data reaffirms that ADA enforcement via litigation continues to be led by a relatively small number of highly active individuals and firms, making it essential for businesses to proactively address website accessibility and reduce litigation risk.

Over 80% of ADA Lawsuits Filed by 10 Law Firms

ADA Website Lawsuits Filed by Plaintiff Firms
Plaintiff Firm Name January to March Percentage January February March
Gottlieb & Associates 156 15.87% 56 50 50
Manning Law, APC 131 13.33% 38 52 41
Stein Saks, PLLC 103 10.48% 19 51 33
Equal Access Law Group PLLC 87 8.85% 0 27 60
Roderick V. Hannah, Esq., P.A. 83 8.44% 22 28 33
Asher Cohen PLLC 64 6.51% 49 15 0
NYE Stirling, Hale & Miller, LLP 63 6.41% 21 31 11
Aleksandra Kravets, Esq. P.A. 41 4.17% 16 11 14
Throndset Michenfelder Law Office, LLC 39 3.97% 11 12 16
Horowitz Law, PLLC 32 3.26% 12 10 10
10 Law Firms Filed 81.28% ADA Lawsuits in Q1 of 2025 799 81.82% 244 287 268
19 Law Firms Filed 18.72% ADA Lawsuits in Q1 of 2025 184 18.72% 73 49 62
29 Law Firms Collectively Filed 983 Lawsuits in Q1 of 2025 983 100% 317 336 330

Concentration of ADA Lawsuits Among a Few Law Firms

In the first quarter of 2025, 29 law firms collectively filed 983 ADA website accessibility lawsuits. However, the vast majority of these lawsuits—81.28%—were filed by just 10 firms, reflecting a strong concentration of litigation activity among a small number of high-volume filers.

Gottlieb & Associates led all firms with 156 lawsuits (15.87%), followed closely by Manning Law, APC with 131 filings (13.33%). Stein Saks, PLLC, despite recent sanctions and ongoing scrutiny, remained active with 103 lawsuits (10.48%) in the first quarter alone.

Other notable contributors included:

  • Equal Access Law Group PLLC: 87 lawsuits (8.85%)
  • Roderick V. Hannah, Esq., P.A.: 83 lawsuits (8.44%)
  • Asher Cohen PLLC: 64 lawsuits (6.51%)
  • NYE Stirling, Hale & Miller, LLP: 63 lawsuits (6.41%)

These firms have consistently been at the forefront of digital accessibility litigation and continue to shape the evolving legal landscape through volume-driven enforcement strategies.

The dominance of a few firms highlights a persistent pattern. ADA website lawsuits are often driven by repeat players—both in terms of plaintiffs and the legal teams representing them. This makes it critical for businesses to remain proactive about compliance, as the same firms and plaintiffs frequently target non-compliant websites.

Dual Firm Representation Under One Attorney

Multiple plaintiffs—such as Constance Henry, Amanie Riley, Simon Isakov, Haron Cole, Leah Walker, Dennis Sumlin, and Nathalie Reyes—appear to have filed lawsuits under both Asher Cohen PLLC and Equal Access Law Group PLLC, with Asher Cohen himself listed as the attorney in many of these cases.

This pattern suggests a few possibilities:

1. Attorney Collaboration or Of-Counsel Role
It’s possible that Asher Cohen serves as of counsel or operates in a consulting or collaborating capacity with Equal Access Law Group PLLC. Attorneys often work across firms when they have a special focus, such as ADA litigation, or share resources to file in different jurisdictions.

2. Co-Counsel Arrangements
In some cases, plaintiff attorneys formally co-counsel on ADA cases to share workload, leverage local filing advantages, or coordinate litigation volume. This is common in high-frequency lawsuit environments.

3. Firm Branding Flexibility
It may be a strategic decision to file under different firm names depending on the court, geography, or legal history. This can help manage perception, spread filing volume, or maintain flexibility in how legal services are presented to clients and courts.

Why This Matters

This insight is relevant for businesses, legal analysts, and compliance professionals because it

Reinforces the need to look beyond firm names when evaluating legal trends—individual attorneys may drive large volumes of litigation across multiple entities.

Helps track high-frequency filers more accurately, as focusing on plaintiff names or firm names alone may not reveal the full picture.

Highlights the importance of proactive compliance, as this type of coordinated legal activity can quickly target multiple industries and regions.

983

ADA Website Lawsuits
Filed By 29 Law Firms

81%

of Total Lawsuits
Filed by 10 Law Firms

19%

of Total Lawsuits Collectively
Filed by 19 Law Firms

Over 90% of ADA Lawsuits Filed Against Businesses in Just 10 Industries

Industry Segment Analysis of ADA Lawsuits (January to March 2025)
Industry Category January to March Percentage January February March
Lifestyle, Fashion, Clothing & Apparel 327 33.27% 97 98 132
Restaurant, Food, Drinks & Beverages 259 26.35% 82 110 67
Beauty, Skin & Body Care 93 9.46% 38 20 35
Medical & Health 68 6.92% 13 22 33
Furniture, Lighting, Home Decor & Kitchen Accessories 52 5.29% 20 20 12
Educational, Media, News & Magazines 30 3.05% 8 16 6
Toys, Games, Gifts & Flower Shops 25 2.54% 11 8 6
Entertainment, Musical Instruments & Accessories 18 1.83% 9 6 3
Equipment, Tools & Accessories 18 1.83% 6 6 6
Computer, Mobile & Electronic Accessories 16 1.63% 12 3 1
10 Industries Faced 92.17% of Lawsuits in Q1 of 2025 906 92.17% 296 309 301
10 Industries Faced 7.83% of Lawsuits in Q1 of 2025 77 7.83% 21 27 29
Total ADA Website Lawsuits by Industry in Q1 of 2025 983 100.00% 317 336 330

ADA website accessibility lawsuits in first quarter of  2025 impacted a wide range of industries, but litigation remained highly concentrated in a few key sectors. Out of 983 total lawsuits, 906 cases (92.17%) targeted businesses in just 10 industries.

Top Affected Industries

  • Lifestyle, Fashion, Clothing & Apparel led all sectors with 327 lawsuits (33.27%), showing a sharp increase in March.
  • Restaurants, Food, Drinks & Beverages followed with 259 lawsuits (26.35%), peaking in February with 110 filings.
  • Beauty, Skin & Body Care recorded 93 lawsuits (9.46%), and Medical & Health followed closely with 68 lawsuits (6.92%), both showing steady activity.
  • Furniture, Lighting, Home Decor & Kitchen Accessories was also notably impacted with 52 lawsuits (5.29%).

Key Takeaway

Fashion and food-related websites remain the most litigated sectors, largely due to their high consumer engagement and frequently changing content. Businesses in these sectors must be especially proactive in maintaining accessibility compliance to avoid litigation.

Common ADA Website Accessibility Errors That Can Lead to a Website Lawsuit

Failing to meet basic web accessibility requirements continues to be one of the leading causes of ADA lawsuits. Below are some of the most frequently identified issues—and how businesses can fix them:

Missing Alt Text for Images

Alternative (alt) text allows screen readers to describe images to users who are blind or visually impaired. Omitting alt text prevents these users from understanding visual content. To fix it add a meaningful alt attributes through your content management system or directly in the HTML (e.g., <img alt=”Description of image”>).

Inadequate Color Contrast

Poor contrast between text and background colors makes content hard to read, especially for users with color blindness or low vision. To fix it ensure a minimum contrast ratio of 4.5:1 for regular text. Use high-contrast color schemes and avoid using color alone to convey meaning.

Inaccessible Multimedia

Videos and audio without captions or transcripts exclude users with hearing impairments. Lack of these features is a common violation. To fix it provide accurate captions for videos and transcripts for audio content. Use media players that support keyboard accessibility and screen reader interaction.

No Keyboard Navigation

If a website can’t be navigated using only a keyboard, it’s inaccessible to users who rely on assistive technologies. To fix it test the site using only the Tab, Shift+Tab, and Enter keys. Ensure that all menus, buttons, forms, and popups are fully usable via keyboard alone.

Unclear or Missing Error Messages

Generic error messages confuse users and can prevent them from completing tasks like submitting a form. To fix it Display specific, descriptive error messages (e.g., “Please enter a valid email address”). Pair these messages with ARIA labels and ensure screen readers can access them.For more practical tips and step-by-step guidance on fixing accessibility issues, visit our Website Accessibility Guides.

ADA Website Lawsuits Against Websites Using an Accessibility Widget

Bar chart comparing ADA lawsuits from January to March in 2025 and 2024. More details available below the image.

Bar chart comparing the number of ADA website lawsuits filed in January, February, and March of 2024 and 2025. Each month displays two bars: blue for 2025 and red for 2024.

Accessibility Widgets: Ongoing Lawsuits and Federal Scrutiny

In the first quarter of 2025, 199 ADA website lawsuits were filed against businesses that had implemented accessibility widgets or overlays on there websites. Despite promises of automated compliance, these tools did not shield companies from legal exposure. In fact, lawsuits involving such widgets were consistently filed each month—73 in January, 77 in February, and 49 in March—demonstrating that their use does not guarantee protection from litigation.

This ongoing legal activity coincides with a major enforcement development. In January 2025, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced a $1 million settlement with an AI-powered accessibility solution provider. The FTC found that the company misled businesses by promoting its widget as a turnkey solution for ADA and WCAG compliance—despite significant technical shortcomings. The investigation revealed that the widget failed to fix key accessibility issues involving menus, images, tables, and multimedia, and that paid endorsements were deceptively presented as unbiased reviews.

Under the settlement, the company must stop making unverified compliance claims and ensure transparent disclosure of sponsored content.

These events serve as a powerful reminder: overreliance on automated accessibility tools without genuine code-level fixes and expert audits leaves businesses vulnerable to both lawsuits and regulatory action. A truly compliant and inclusive website requires a proactive, comprehensive approach to digital accessibility.

Want to understand the FTC settlement and its impact on your business?

ADA Website Lawsuits Filed by Website Platform

During the first quarter of 2025, ADA website lawsuits were filed against businesses operating on a variety of platforms, demonstrating that accessibility risks can exist across all types of website technologies depending on how they are built and managed. 

Businesses using both mainstream e-commerce platforms and content management systems experienced legal scrutiny, reflecting the need for careful accessibility implementation across all types of website environments.

SHOPIFY

A leading all-in-one e-commerce platform designed for businesses to easily create and manage online stores.

Lawsuits: 325
Percentage: 33.06%

WordPress

A widely used open-source content management system known for its flexibility and plugin ecosystem.

Lawsuits: 195
Percentage: 19.84%

SALESFORCE

A cloud-based e-commerce solution tailored for enterprise businesses with integrated CRM and AI-driven personalization.

Lawsuits: 44
Percentage:4.48%

Magento

A powerful, enterprise-level e-commerce platform offering advanced customization and scalability for large online retailers.

Lawsuits: 63
Percentage: 6.41%

Squarespace

A user-friendly website builder offering sleek design templates and built-in tools for small businesses and creatives.

Lawsuits: 26
Percentage: 2.64%

custom coded websites

These are bespoke websites, tailored to specific needs. They offer full control over features, allowing a flexible user experience.

Lawsuits: 330
Percentage: 33.57%

Conclusion

The first quarter of 2025 confirmed that ADA website accessibility litigation remains a significant legal risk for businesses across all industries and platforms. With a 25.3% increase in lawsuits compared to Q1 2024, the upward trend reflects not only growing enforcement but also evolving patterns—driven by repeat plaintiffs, a small group of highly active law firms, and increasing legal scrutiny of automated accessibility solutions.

The data clearly shows that:

  • A small group of plaintiffs and law firms continue to drive the majority of filings.
  • Lawsuits are no longer confined to a few regions—states like Illinois and Minnesota are emerging with increased activity.
  • Businesses using accessibility widgets or overlays are still being targeted, emphasizing the need for real, code-level compliance solutions.
  • Enforcement is not only coming from lawsuits—regulatory bodies like the FTC are now actively holding companies accountable for false accessibility claims.

As digital access continues to be a civil rights priority, the pressure on organizations to create inclusive and legally compliant websites will only grow. Businesses must take a proactive, sustainable approach—conducting accessibility audits, remediating issues at the source code level, and implementing ongoing monitoring to mitigate litigation risk and serve all users equitably.

Accessibility is not just a checkbox; it’s a responsibility and the time to act is now.

We understand that genuine digital accessibility isn’t achieved through shortcuts or superficial fixes.

We fix website accessibility at the code level using WCAG and the latest usability best practices to comply with ADA and EAA requirements.

Person reviewing charts at a desk, with a computer screen showing a Website Accessibility Audit Report.

EcomBack offers practical solutions to help businesses achieve web accessibility

Remediation

EcomBack identifies and fixes accessibility issues by updating code, optimizing content structure, and ensuring assistive technology compatibility.

Accessibility Audits

Human experts perform in-depth audits—monthly, quarterly, bi-annually, or annually—to detect issues missed by automation and maintain ADA compliance.

Ongoing Monitoring

We provide continuous accessibility monitoring to ensure websites remain compliant after updates and content changes.

Staff Training

EcomBack’s training modules empower your team with the knowledge and tools to implement and maintain best accessibility practices.

Accessibility Statement

We help craft clear and effective accessibility statements that communicate your commitment to users.

Usability Testing

Certified testers with disabilities conduct real-world testing to evaluate your site’s user experience and accessibility accuracy.

Partnering with EcomBack means going beyond compliance—it's a commitment to creating a genuinely inclusive and accessible digital experience for everyone.

Disclaimer: This report is intended for informational purposes only. The data and insights are based on our own research and interpretation. While we aim for accuracy, we do not guarantee the completeness or reliability of the information provided. For full terms and conditions, please refer to our Website Content Disclaimer.