Filed Date: 2006
Closed Date: Aug. 18, 2009
Clearinghouse coding complete
In 2006, the American Council of the Blind (ACB), the California Council of the Blind (CCB) and the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) entered negotiations with Trader Joe's Company, Inc. claiming that the grocer failed to comply with disability statutes. Keypads used on the point of sale devices (credit card readers) at Trader Joe's stores featured only digital screens, which are impossible to read for many of the visually impaired. As a result, customers were forced to tell cashiers their credit card Personal Identification Numbers (PIN), resulting in significant privacy and security issues.
In 2006, the parties agreed to a roll out, in stages, of tactile keypads on California-based Trader Joe's stores. Such devices allow the visually impaired to determine what numbers they are pressing by touch, helping keep PINs secret. Trader Joe's would first test devices and then progressively place tactile keypads on point of sale devices across the state. The settlement agreement went into effect June 30, 2006, and was set to last until December 30, 2008. The parties agreed to later negotiate to determine the time-frame for statewide application.
The parties agreed to an amendment to the settlement, effective December 30, 2008. The amendment extended the settlement for another year, and required Trader Joe's to install point of sale devices with tactile keypads in at least 33% of its existing stores. In addition, all new stores were to have devices with tactile keypads. Trader Joe's also agreed to provide written confirmation of the installations by April 5, 2009.
A press release from August 18, 2009, indicates that all of Trader Joe's stores have been updated with the improved point of sale devices.
Summary Authors
Abe Hiatt (3/5/2013)
Lauren Yu (9/3/2021)
Dardarian, Linda M. (California)
Feingold, Lainey [Elaine] (California)
Last updated Aug. 30, 2023, 1:33 p.m.
Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.State / Territory: California
Case Type(s):
Key Dates
Filing Date: 2006
Closing Date: Aug. 18, 2009
Case Ongoing: No
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
American Council of the Blind, the American Foundation for the Blind and the California Council of the Blind.
Plaintiff Type(s):
Attorney Organizations:
Public Interest Lawyer: Yes
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
Trader Joes, Private Entity/Person
Defendant Type(s):
Facility Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), 42 U.S.C. §§ 12111 et seq.
Special Case Type(s):
Available Documents:
Injunctive (or Injunctive-like) Relief
Outcome
Prevailing Party: Plaintiff
Nature of Relief:
Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement
Source of Relief:
Form of Settlement:
Content of Injunction:
Order Duration: 2006 - 2009
Issues
General/Misc.:
Disability and Disability Rights:
Discrimination Basis: