In a significant legal move, a class action lawsuit has been filed against a major American retailer, alleging violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) due to its website’s inaccessibility to visually impaired users. On November 18, 2025, Isaiah McKinnley lodged the complaint in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York against American Eagle Outfitters, Inc.
Isaiah McKinnley, who is legally blind and relies on screen-reading software to navigate digital interfaces, accuses American Eagle Outfitters of failing to make their website accessible to individuals with visual impairments. According to McKinnley, the website www.ae.com contains numerous accessibility barriers that violate both federal and local laws designed to protect individuals with disabilities. The lawsuit highlights several specific issues found during audits conducted by McKinnley’s counsel, including broken links, unlabeled buttons, missing alternative text for images, and keyboard traps that hinder navigation for screen reader users.
The complaint argues that these barriers prevent blind and visually impaired customers from accessing essential services offered by American Eagle’s online platform. This includes browsing products, making purchases, and accessing customer support—services that are integral parts of the company’s retail ecosystem. McKinnley attempted multiple times in October and November 2025 to use the website but was thwarted by these persistent obstacles. He specifically sought to purchase apparel items as gifts but was unable to complete any transactions independently due to these accessibility issues.
The lawsuit contends that American Eagle’s actions constitute discrimination under Title III of the ADA and similar provisions under New York State and City Human Rights Laws. It asserts that approximately 8.1 million people in the United States are visually impaired, including about 400,000 in New York State alone. These individuals rely on websites being compliant with established guidelines like the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA standards—a benchmark which McKinnley claims American Eagle has failed to meet.
McKinnley seeks a permanent injunction requiring American Eagle Outfitters to revise its policies and ensure its website is fully accessible to blind users. The plaintiff also requests compensatory damages for himself and others similarly affected by these accessibility barriers. Additionally, he demands that American Eagle be ordered to take immediate steps towards compliance with all relevant disability access laws.
Representing McKinnley is Robert Schonfeld from Joseph & Norinsberg LLC. The case is assigned Case ID 1:25-cv-09638 in front of judges at the Southern District of New York Court.
Source: 125cv09638_Isaiah_Mckinnley_v_American_Eagler_Complaint_Southern_District_of_New_York.pdf
