NAR discrimination suit now a federal case
An amended complaint by a former project manager adds new claims and details to sexual harassment, discrimination and retaliation allegations.
A former employee's lawsuit against the National Association of Realtors has been expanded to include federal civil rights violations and breach of contract claims.
The amended complaint, filed Sept. 10, builds on a suit initiated by Roshani Sheth in June, accusing leaders at the association of sexual harassment, discrimination and retaliation.
Sheth, who worked at NAR as a project manager from 2014-2019, says she was fired for complaining about how she was treated. She is seeking compensation for emotional distress, economic losses and attorney fees — spelled out as more than $2 million when the case was first brought, but left to the court in the latest filing.
What the case is about: Sheth, who is of Indian descent, faced "discrimination based on her sex and national origin during her employment," including "sexual harassment, unequal terms and conditions of employment and failure to promote," the original filing stated. After Sheth complained, she was fired.
She also endured retaliation that included harassing and threatening texts with shorthand references to "kill yourself" and being a "rat," the lawsuit said.
The amended filing goes into greater detail about specific individuals accused of mistreating Sheth — her supervisor, the president of partner company, and NAR's former head of human resources. It also accuses NAR of breaching a 2019 agreement with Sheth by failing to provide neutral employment references.
The bigger picture: The New York Times wrote about Sheth last year as part of its coverage of the issues facing NAR and its leadership, specifically, an alleged pattern of sexual harassment, discrimination and retribution at the organization.
In a new interview with the Times, Sheth said high-profile resignations over the past year have been positive for the industry but "it still has a ways to go. The only way is to take it through the legal system."
What NAR had to say: "The National Association of Realtors is committed to fostering a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace," an NAR spokesperson said in a statement. "We don't comment on matters of employment."