Wisconsin ADA Website Compliance Guide

🧀 WISCONSIN: 7TH CIRCUIT ENFORCEMENT SURGE

2,244 Government Entities including 421 school districts face April 2026 deadline. 34 federal lawsuits filed in H1 2025 alone—tied for 10th nationally. The 7th Circuit (WI, IL, IN) has become increasingly plaintiff-friendly for ADA website cases.

🎯 Milwaukee Metro Enforcement:
• Milwaukee County: $66,000 settlement (2024)
• Madison Metropolitan Schools: $57,000 settlement (2023)
• Anodyne Coffee (Milwaukee): Sued for website accessibility
• Koss Corporation (Milwaukee): Sued for screen reader incompatibility
• Heid Music Company: Found liable for ADA Title III violations

👤 Serial Plaintiff Alert - Melissa McCabe (Racine): A legally blind Racine resident has filed 30+ ADA website lawsuits against Wisconsin businesses over two years. Targets include Milwaukee-area companies, with settlements ranging $1,000-$25,000 plus legal fees (total costs ~$20,000 per case).

📚 School District Vulnerability: Wisconsin DPI issued May 2025 compliance reminder to all 421 districts. PDF accessibility violations most common trigger. Following Michigan's 2,400-complaint crisis model.

⚖️ 7th Circuit Regional Trend: Illinois lawsuit surge (745% increase) signals expansion into Wisconsin. The circuit holds websites ARE places of public accommodation under ADA. Expect enforcement spillover from Chicago plaintiff firms.

🏛️ Insurance Agency Warning: In 2023, Wisconsin insurance agencies received demand letters from out-of-state law firms asking $5,000 to avoid ADA lawsuits. Pattern may expand to other industries.

⏰ April 24, 2026 Deadline: Entities serving 50,000+ must achieve WCAG 2.1 Level AA compliance. Read the complete Wisconsin ADA compliance guide.