In a compelling lawsuit that highlights the ongoing struggle for digital accessibility, Erika Alexandria has filed a class action complaint against Gurhan New York, Inc. in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York on November 26, 2025. The complaint accuses Gurhan New York of failing to make its website accessible to visually impaired individuals, thus violating the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and New York City Human Rights Law.
Erika Alexandria, who is legally blind and requires screen-reading software to navigate websites, represents herself and others similarly affected in this legal battle. The complaint details how Alexandria attempted to use Gurhan’s website on multiple occasions, most recently on May 15, 2025, to purchase a birthday gift but was met with insurmountable barriers due to the site’s lack of compatibility with screen-reading technology. “The Website contains access barriers that prevent free and full use by the Plaintiff using keyboards and screen-reading software,” states the complaint. These barriers include missing alt-text, unannounced pop-ups, unclear labels for interactive elements, and broken links which effectively deny visually impaired users equal access to online goods and services.
The case underscores a broader issue affecting millions of visually impaired individuals across the United States who rely on assistive technologies like screen readers to access digital content. According to a 2020 U.S. Census Bureau report cited in the complaint, approximately 8.1 million people in the U.S. are visually impaired, including two million who are blind. In New York alone, about 418,500 visually impaired persons face similar challenges when accessing online platforms.
Alexandria’s lawsuit seeks not only justice for herself but also aims for systemic change within Gurhan New York’s corporate policies regarding web accessibility. The plaintiff requests a permanent injunction requiring Gurhan to collaborate with an agreed-upon consultant to ensure their website complies with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 standards—a set of internationally recognized guidelines designed to make web content more accessible.
The relief sought includes making necessary modifications so that blind and visually impaired consumers can enjoy equal access to Gurhan’s online offerings as sighted individuals do. Additionally, Alexandria seeks compensatory damages under New York City Human Rights Law along with attorneys’ fees and costs associated with bringing this action forward.
Representing Erika Alexandria is attorney Rami Salim from Stein Saks PLLC based in Hackensack, New Jersey. The case has been assigned Case No.: 25-9863 at the Southern District of New York court where it will be presided over by yet-to-be-named judges as proceedings unfold.
Source: 125cv09863_Erika_Alexandria_v_Gurhan_New_York_Complaint_Southern_District_of_New_York.pdf
