ECBAWM Files Lawsuit Alleging Source of Income and Disability Discrimination at Lefrak City

  • April 25, 2013

Today, ECBAWM and co-counsel Housing Works, Inc. filed a housing discrimination lawsuit in federal court on behalf of a woman living with AIDS and the Fair Housing Justice Center (FHJC) against the Lefrak Organization, one of the nation’s largest landlords. The complaint alleges that Lefrak and one of its subsidiary companies discriminate on the basis of disability and source of income in the operation of the 5000-unit LeFrak City complex in Queens and other apartment buildings throughout New York City. Specifically, the complaint alleges that defendants operate physically separate and unequal rental offices, one for tenants who are employed and the other for tenants receiving government housing assistance, including New Yorkers living with AIDS and using a HIV/AIDS Services Administration (HASA) rental subsidy. The FHJC sent undercover testers to Lefrak’s rental offices who confirmed the allegedly discriminatory practices and policies. The plaintiffs are represented by Diane L. Houk of ECBAWM and Armen H. Merjian of Housing Works, Inc.