By Minh N. Vu and Paul H. Kehoe

The Department of Justice (DOJ) yesterday announced a settlement [here and here] with Peapod, the country’s leading internet grocery retailer and delivery service, concerning its website and mobile application.  The agreement exemplifies the DOJ’s continued focus on requiring public accommodations to ensure that their websites are accessible to individuals with disabilities, even while it is still working on proposed regulations to specifically address accessible websites.  Under the agreement, Peapod will ensure that its website and mobile application will conform with the Website Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0, Levels A and AA.  Peapod’s commitment continues Peapod’s longstanding tradition of ensuring that its goods and services and accessible to individuals with disabilities.  Since 1993, Peapod has offered a screen-readable version of its website for blind users as well as free telephonic grocery ordering services to individuals with disabilities who have difficulty using its website.  Peapod will not pay any damages or civil penalties in connection with this agreement.

Seyfarth represented Peapod in this matter.