A lawsuit against a popular U.S. restaurant chain regarding an online menu inaccessible to screen reader software.
In 2023, John Davis, a blind customer from California, filed a lawsuit against The Cheesecake Factory, a popular U.S. restaurant chain. John attempted to browse their online menu using his screen reader software (JAWS) to place a pickup order. However, he quickly discovered that the restaurant’s website and mobile ordering system were not accessible to visually impaired users.
The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California under Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
John’s complaint outlined several digital barriers, and the plaintiff argued that the website acts as an extension of its physical restaurants and must therefore comply with ADA accessibility laws.
**Key Barriers:** Menu images without descriptive text meant screen readers could not identify dish names or prices because they were embedded in photos without alt text. Navigation barriers prevented keyboard access, making it impossible to move between categories like “Appetizers” or “Desserts.” Checkout errors occurred because required form fields were unlabeled and error messages were not read aloud by assistive technology. Furthermore, some menus were uploaded as imagebased PDFs, which are unreadable to screen readers.
John said he felt “excluded and frustrated,” comparing it to walking into a restaurant and finding the menu written in invisible ink.
Within months of the lawsuit, the restaurant chain agreed to a settlement and began redesigning its digital platforms for compliance.
They introduced Textbased menus with clear alt descriptions, accessible ordering and payment systems, and voiceover friendly navigation. This case sent a strong message to the **hospitality industry** that accessibility is not optional, and every digital touchpoint, from menus to reservations, must be usable for everyone.
HOSPITALITY
ONLINE MENUS
Focuses on digital menus, ordering systems, and WCAG 2.2 standards in the food industry.
At GetADAAlert, we help restaurants ensure their online menus, booking systems, and delivery platforms are ADAcompliant. By following WCAG 2.2 standards, restaurant owners can protect their brand, improve SEO, and make dining accessible for all customers.