American Eagle has filed a lawsuit against Westfield San Francisco Centre, alleging Westfield has neglected its obligations as a landlord. This led to a surge in mall criminal activity and created an unsafe environment for employees and customers.

American Eagle‘s lawsuit accuses Westfield of allowing the San Francisco Centre mall to “deteriorate into disarray.” The retailer claims that Westfield breached its lease agreement by neglecting common areas in the mall, which has resulted in American Eagle employees having to deal with gun violence, physical assaults, burglaries, and robberies.

The lawsuit further alleges that Westfield has been negligent in maintaining security and management responsibilities as outlined in their lease agreement. Between May 2020 and May 2023, American Eagle reported over 100 significant security incidents at the store, including customers brandishing weapons and verbally assaulting staff.

The retailer also accuses Westfield of turning a blind eye to these issues, shifting all blame to the city of San Francisco while failing to take responsibility for its role in the mall’s decline. This alleged neglect has left American Eagle and its employees to bear the brunt of the escalating crime rates and deteriorating conditions at the mall.