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Novel California False Claims Act case where contractor failed to deliver WCAG-compliant campsite reservation system despite contractual guarantees.
Plaintiff
Bryan Bashin (whistleblower)
Defendant
Conduent State & Local Solutions, Inc.; US eDirect
Date Filed
January 1, 2020
Date Resolved
June 30, 2024
Settlement Amount
$2 million (one of largest web accessibility settlements)
Jurisdiction
California state court
WCAG Level
Level AABryan Bashin, a blind accessibility advocate and whistleblower, filed a qui tam action under the California False Claims Act against Conduent and US eDirect for failing to deliver a WCAG-compliant ReserveCalifornia.com campsite reservation system despite contractual obligations to the State of California. Key case elements: - Contractor claimed WCAG compliance in proposals but delivered inaccessible system - System contained numerous accessibility barriers including missing alt text, incompatible forms, and poor screen reader support - State of California was defrauded into paying for non-compliant solution - Whistleblower provisions of California False Claims Act allowed private individual to sue on behalf of state Settlement distribution: - $87,500 to plaintiff (Bashin) as whistleblower reward - $1.75 million to attorneys for legal fees - $165,000 to State of California This case established novel precedent that web developers can face liability under false claims acts when they fail to meet contractual WCAG compliance guarantees. It demonstrated that accessibility is not merely a customer service issue but a contractual compliance matter with potential fraud implications.
This novel application of the False Claims Act creates significant precedent for government contracts. It suggests that contractors nationwide may face similar qui tam actions if they fail to deliver accessible systems. This case may increase government agencies' scrutiny of contractor accessibility compliance.
Official court documents and references are not currently available for this case.
For official records, please search PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) using the case number or contact the relevant court directly. You may also find information on public legal databases like Justia or CourtListener.