WASHINGTON—Following the Supreme Court's decision against hearing an appeal from Domino's Pizza–leaving in place a ruling from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit that Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements are applicable to websites and mobile applications–NAFCU's Carrie Hunt is again urging the Department of Justice (DOJ) to provide clear guidance for website accessibility standards.
The Domino's case is among a series of court decisions that provided differing rulings on whether – and to what degree – websites must be ADA accessible, an issue that has hit credit unions across the country. With the Supreme Court's decision to not hear this appeal, uncertainty about the applicability of the ADA to websites continues, NAFCU noted.
"The existing split among courts regarding the applicability of the ADA to websites, and whether a website constitutes a place of public accommodation remains troubling," wrote Hunt, NAFCU's executive vice president of government affairs and general counsel, in a letter to the DOJ. "This split of authority will likely encourage further lawsuits against the credit union industry, and emphasizes the need for a resolution."
Another Risk
Hunt also noted that credit unions that abide by the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) private industry standard are also at risk of litigation.
"Some proponents argue that the WCAG standards provides sufficient guidance; however, these standards are clearly insufficient as lawsuits continue, despite full compliance," wrote Hunt. "Thus, guidance from the DOJ is necessary to abate litigation and ensure robust protections for disabled persons," she added.