A visually-impaired individual has taken legal action against a business owner for failing to make their website accessible to blind and visually-impaired users. Jesus Torres filed the complaint on September 16, 2025, in the Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara, against Edin Roberto Lopez Morales. The lawsuit highlights significant issues regarding accessibility barriers on the defendant’s website, www.lopeztaqueria.com, which prevent blind individuals from accessing goods and services offered both online and at physical locations.
The plaintiff, Jesus Torres, is legally blind and relies on screen-reading software (SRS) to navigate websites. He alleges that Lopez Morales has not designed or maintained his website to be accessible to those who are visually impaired. According to Torres, this oversight violates the Unruh Civil Rights Act (UCRA), which mandates equal access for individuals with disabilities. The complaint outlines various accessibility barriers encountered by Torres during his attempts to use the website, such as unlabeled graphics and buttons without alternative text (Alt-text), inaccessible menu descriptions, and an order system that cannot be navigated using SRS.
Torres argues that these barriers have deterred him from utilizing the services offered by Lopez Morales’s business both online and in-person at its brick-and-mortar location in Sunnyvale, California. He asserts that despite being proficient with SRS technology, he was unable to complete basic tasks like browsing the menu or placing an order due to these obstacles. As a result of these experiences, Torres claims he has been denied full and equal access under California law.
In his lawsuit, Torres seeks a permanent injunction requiring Lopez Morales to modify his corporate policies and practices so that his website becomes fully accessible to blind consumers. Additionally, Torres requests statutory damages not exceeding $24,999 per offense along with reasonable attorney fees and costs. He emphasizes that the injunctive relief sought should not require expenditures exceeding $50,000 by the defendant.
Representing Jesus Torres is Craig G. Cote from Manning Law APC. The case is being reviewed under Case No.: 25CV475299 in front of Judge M. Johnson at the Superior Court of California in Santa Clara County.
Source: 25CV475299_Jesus_Torres_v_Edin_Roberto_Complaint_County_of_Santa_Clara_California.pdf
