AG Schwalb Files First Lawsuit Enforcing New Anti-Discrimination Protections for Voucher Holders

Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb today announced the filing of a housing discrimination lawsuit seeking to enforce new protections for DC tenants that went into effect in 2022. In a lawsuit filed against two local real estate companies—Bailey Real Estate Holdings, LLC and 1537 Gales Street NE, LLC—and two individuals who operate those companies, the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) asserts that the defendants illegally discriminated against voucher holders based on their prior payment history and sealed eviction records, and illegally stated a preference for certain types of vouchers over others. The lawsuit also claims that the defendants illegally refused to accept housing vouchers at some properties, falsely telling prospective tenants with vouchers that apartments were unavailable. With this suit, OAG is seeking a court order to stop the discrimination, as well as civil penalties and other costs.

AG Racine Releases Final 8-Year Report Showing Growth and Impact of the Office of the Attorney General Since 2015 lauren.massey

Attorney General Karl A. Racine today released a new, comprehensive report highlighting the breadth of work of the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) over the past eight years.  

Standing Up for Fair, Safe, and Equitable Housing in the District

It’s been a busy few weeks advocating for housing justice here at the Office of Attorney General. We’ve had two significant wins: Passing emergency legislation to reform the DC Housing Authority and securing the largest housing discrimination penalty in U.S. history.

AG Racine Forces Owners & Managers of Apartment Buildings to Pay More Than $2 million to the District, Improve Public Safety Around Properties in Lawsuit Brought by OAG

Attorney General Karl A. Racine today announced the resolution of three cases including one in which the owners and property managers of two apartment buildings in Ward 4 will pay the District more than $2 million for public safety and housing code violations and remedy those conditions, and two other resolutions requiring owners in Wards 7 and 8 to make needed updates to the properties to make them safer for residents.