[Wsuug] Target + Accessibility

[Adam Crosby]

On Aug 31, 2008, at 11:29 AM, Reese wrote:

> Andrew Jaswa wrote:
>> YAY!!! This means all my hard work wasn't for naught.
>
> I'm not sure what to think about this. While I agree that commercial
> sites should adhere to section 508 best practices, I believe that
> only government sites are required to - or has the law changed in
> that regard?
>
The case didn't make it through court - they settled.  ADA application  
to private websites has not yet been established - this would have  
been the first case.

> Ultimately, it's a $6 million award from a company that reported
> over $60 billion in 2007: http://investors.target.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=65828&p=irol-reportsAnnual

It was a $6m award PLUS an agreement to modify their site to be 508  
compliant.  I would like to think that was the main point, rather than  
collecting punitive damages.


> Ho hum, in other words. One of the first meetings would have made
> this a new story around a year ago, Target probably paid their
> attorneys more than $6 million in the last year. Anyone find a link
> to read the decision yet? Maybe the terms were to cover costs of the
> plaintiffs and adopt 508 compliance?

No decision - it was an out of court settlement.  I think they settled  
specifically to avoid a decision.