Public accommodations may not deny anyone full enjoyment because of disability (R.C. 4112.02(G)). Anyone who violates the chapter can be sued directly for damages and an injunction (R.C. 4112.99(A)); the 2021 rule requiring an administrative charge first applies only to employment claims (R.C. 4112.99(B)). The statute names no fixed amount and no fee-shifting. On top of that, the federal ADA applies in Ohio as everywhere: a business that loses or settles a website accessibility suit pays the plaintiff’s attorney’s fees.
The law
The federal baseline
ADA Title III gives a private plaintiff no money damages, but a business that loses or settles pays the plaintiff’s attorney’s fees (42 U.S.C. § 12205 (opens in a new tab)). That fee-shifting is what makes a website claim expensive, in Ohio and everywhere else.
Lawsuits in Ohio
Our lawsuit tracker has indexed 1 federal court records from Ohio. It’s a sample, not a complete count: it covers dockets that say what they’re about.
- Victoria's Secret & Co. (opens in a new tab), filed 2026-04
Questions
Can a business in Ohio be sued over an inaccessible website?
Yes. The federal ADA applies in every state, and a plaintiff can sue in federal court for an order to fix the site plus attorney's fees. Under Ohio law a person can sue the business directly. We found no court decision applying Ohio law to a website.
What is the minimum a Ohio court awards for a website accessibility violation?
Ohio law sets no fixed minimum per violation. Public accommodations may not deny anyone full enjoyment because of disability (R.C. 4112.02(G)). Anyone who violates the chapter can be sued directly for damages and an injunction (R.C. 4112.99(A)); the 2021 rule requiring an administrative charge first applies only to employment claims (R.C. 4112.99(B)). The statute names no fixed amount and no fee-shifting.
Do I pay the plaintiff's lawyer if I lose or settle in Ohio?
Under the federal ADA, yes: a business that loses or settles usually pays the plaintiff's attorney's fees (42 U.S.C. § 12205). Whether Ohio law adds its own fee award is unconfirmed.
Which accessibility standard should a Ohio business website meet?
The ADA doesn't name a technical standard for businesses. The Justice Department's 2022 guidance points to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), and its 2024 rule for state and local governments adopted WCAG 2.1 Level AA.