Bars disability discrimination by any 'person or entity doing business in the state', including services that are not equal or not as effective (§§ 42-87-2, 42-87-3). Disabled people can sue in superior court for compensatory and punitive damages (§ 42-87-4(a)). Where the claim also falls under the Human Rights Commission's public-accommodation jurisdiction (§ 11-24), the plaintiff must first file with the Commission and wait 60 days or for a final order (§ 42-87-4(b)). § 42-87-4 does not mention attorney fees. On top of that, the federal ADA applies in Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island and everywhere else.
Lawsuits in Rhode Island
The lawsuit tracker has no indexed court records from Rhode Island yet.
Questions
Can a business in Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island law a person can sue the business directly. We found no court decision applying Rhode Island law to a website.
What is the minimum a Rhode Island court awards for a website accessibility violation?
Rhode Island law sets no fixed minimum per violation. Bars disability discrimination by any 'person or entity doing business in the state', including services that are not equal or not as effective (§§ 42-87-2, 42-87-3). Disabled people can sue in superior court for compensatory and punitive damages (§ 42-87-4(a)). Where the claim also falls under the Human Rights Commission's public-accommodation jurisdiction (§ 11-24), the plaintiff must first file with the Commission and wait 60 days or for a final order (§ 42-87-4(b)). § 42-87-4 does not mention attorney fees.
Do I pay the plaintiff's lawyer if I lose or settle in Rhode Island?
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 Rhode Island law adds its own fee award is unconfirmed.
Which accessibility standard should a Rhode Island 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.