Shopify just published a warning a couple weeks ago. October 22, 2025. They called it "The Small Business Shakedown." It's about ADA lawsuits targeting stores like yours. If you haven't read it, you should:
Read Shopify's Warning →I read it. And what they're describing is happening right now. To stores like yours.
Your business is likely breaking a major federal law. Not on purpose. You just didn't know.
The law is the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). It says people with disabilities must have equal access to public places. For decades, that meant physical stores. But courts made it clear: your website is your digital store. If someone who is blind or uses a keyboard instead of a mouse cannot use your store, you're breaking the law.
I'm not trying to scare you. I'm trying to be straight with you. This is the reality.
But here's what matters: You probably have no idea this is happening. And that's okay. Almost every store owner is in the exact same position. Which is also why they're being targeted.
77% of all ADA lawsuits are filed against online stores. Not restaurants. Not retail shops. Online. Stores. Like yours.
Why? Because specialized law firms have figured out the game:
Your store changes constantly. New products. New banners. New apps. Every update creates an opening.
They file hundreds of cases. Not one. Not ten. Hundreds. Targeting the exact same mistakes on different websites.
Every store makes the same mistakes. You're predictable. Easy. They know exactly what they'll find on your site.
I'm going to be honest. This is expensive. And it's a headache.
$5,000 to $50,000 Settlement
You pay the plaintiff. This money is gone.
Your Legal Fees: Thousands More
Your lawyer doesn't work for free. Add this on top.
Forced Fixes With Tight Deadlines
Courts order you to fix everything. Expensive. Rushed. Stressful.
41% Get Sued Again
Quick band-aid fixes don't work. Half of businesses sued once get sued again.
You might think one disabled person is suing you. Wrong. These lawsuits are filed by specialized law firms with a business model: file hundreds of cases, make money, move on. It's not about helping disabled people access your store. It's about extracting settlements.
The ADA is the law. But it doesn't tell you HOW to be compliant. Courts use something called WCAG 2.1 Level AA as the standard.
Think of it like building codes. The law says you need a wheelchair ramp (ADA). WCAG tells you the exact height, width, and material (WCAG 2.1 AA). If your site doesn't meet WCAG 2.1 AA, courts say you're breaking the ADA. That's how they measure it.
Shopify sets you up well. But almost every store owner makes the same three mistakes. Your store probably has all three:
Every product image, logo, banner needs written description called Alt Text. Blind people use screen readers that read this text aloud. If they click your product and the reader just says "Image," they have no idea what it is. They leave. And lawyers know this is the easiest way to sue you.
Many people can't use a mouse. They use Tab key to navigate. Every button, menu, form must work perfectly with just keyboard. If your dropdown traps them, they can't checkout. You lose the sale AND get sued. Plus: if your text is too light or too similar color to background, people with poor vision can't read it.
You've seen those pop-ups: "AI Accessibility" or "One-Click Compliance." Don't trust them. These are band-aids. They hide surface problems but ignore serious code errors (keyboard traps, bad form labels, etc.). Worse: they sometimes break accessibility tools disabled users depend on. Lawsuits are increasingly filed AGAINST companies using these.
Takes 90 seconds. You'll see exactly what's broken on your site.
Solving this requires two things:
Get rid of any quick-fix widgets that only change colors or text size. They don't work. Worse, courts reject them.
You need a professional audit that uses both automatic tools and real human testing. This fixes the three main issues:
This is a business problem first, technical problem second. You need a trusted plan for legal protection AND to open your store to all customers.
We scan your entire Shopify store against WCAG 2.1 AA standards.
We check 50+ accessibility issues: alt text, color contrast, keyboard navigation, form labels, screen reader compatibility, mobile responsiveness—everything.
We fix everything directly in your Shopify theme. No overlays. No band-aids.
Alt text generation, ARIA labels, color adjustments, keyboard navigation, semantic markup. Real fixes that pass audits.
VPAT report + remediation log. Your lawsuit shield.
If a lawyer comes after you, we show proof: dated audit, every fix implemented, ongoing maintenance. Courts take this seriously. Most cases get dismissed.
Your store changes. We watch it.
Every quarter we re-audit and send updated reports. If something breaks, we flag it. You stay protected as you grow.
2-4 Weeks
From audit to full compliance. Fast enough to stop a lawsuit threat.
Week 1
Audit complete. Report delivered.
Week 2-3
All fixes implemented. Tested.
Week 4
Final audit. VPAT ready.
Ongoing
Quarterly check-ins.
$1,997
One-time investment. Protects you from $10K-$30K lawsuits.
That's cheaper than one lawsuit settlement. And you're actually fixing the problem, not just paying to make it go away.
89+
Stores fixed. All protected.
5 Years
Been doing this. Know what works.
0
Clients sued after we fixed them.
"Got sued twice. They fixed it. Case dismissed. Worth every penny." — Fashion Brand Owner
Not definitely. But if you have the 3 gaps, you're a target. 12K+ stores got sued last year. Most had exactly what you probably have.
Maybe. But it takes weeks, you might miss things, and one mistake costs you. Plus you don't have legal documentation to defend yourself.
We rush the audit and fixes. Having proof of good-faith remediation often gets cases dismissed or settlements reduced dramatically.
Right now we specialize in Shopify. That's where the lawsuits are hitting hardest.
We'll tell you upfront. No surprises. Some complex issues might push past 4 weeks, but we'll be transparent about timeline and cost.
Check your compliance score. See what's broken. Then decide if you want help.
Check Your Score Free (90 Seconds)No credit card needed. No pressure.
