Case: Trader Joe’s Point of Sale Agreement and Amendment

N/A | No Court

Filed Date: 2006

Closed Date: Aug. 18, 2009

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Case Summary

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 thei…

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)

People


Attorney for Plaintiff

Dardarian, Linda M. (California)

Feingold, Lainey [Elaine] (California)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

Trader Joe’s Point of Sale Settlement Agreement

Trader Joe’s Point of Sale Agreement and Amendment

June 30, 2006

June 30, 2006

Settlement Agreement

Trader Joe’s Point of Sale Press Release

Trader Joe's Point of Sale Agreement

Aug. 18, 2009

Aug. 18, 2009

Press Release

Resources

Docket

Last updated Aug. 30, 2023, 1:33 p.m.

Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.

Case Details

State / Territory: California

Case Type(s):

Disability Rights

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):

Private Plaintiff

Attorney Organizations:

Law Office of Lainey Feingold

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):

Retailer

Case Details

Causes of Action:

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), 42 U.S.C. §§ 12111 et seq.

Special Case Type(s):

Out-of-court

Available Documents:

Injunctive (or Injunctive-like) Relief

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff

Nature of Relief:

Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement

Source of Relief:

Settlement

Form of Settlement:

Private Settlement Agreement

Order Duration: 2006 - 2009

Content of Injunction:

Reporting

Issues

General:

Retail Shopping

Disability and Disability Rights:

Visual impairment

Discrimination-basis:

Disability (inc. reasonable accommodations)

Type of Facility:

Non-government for-profit