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'Is this a Babylon Bee story': Internet stunned as elite NYC real estate brokerage sued for not helping woman find 'affordable housing'

Shaniqua Newkirk accused Douglas Elliman of violating the discrimination laws of the Fair Housing Act

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: An African-American woman named Shaniqua Newkirk has reportedly sued leading real estate company Douglas Elliman and 35 of its realtors for discrimination after they allegedly failed to help her find low-income housing. 

Newkirk filed the lawsuit in a New York City federal court last month, claiming that the company violated discrimination laws in the Fair Housing Act, the Daily Mail reported.

She reportedly sent emails to the renowned realtors in June 2021 and requested help to find Section 8 housing, a federal government voucher program launched to help poor families, the elderly, or the disabled to afford housing in the private market.

However, Newkirk claimed that the agents either failed to respond or did not provide her adequate help.

Douglas Elliman strongly denied the allegations in a statement, saying, "We will be challenging the merits of these predatory and baseless claims."

The internet was also left stunned by Newkirk's lawsuit against the company. "Next up 5-Star restaurants will be sued for not having a $1 menu section," Frank DeScushin mocked.

What did Shaniqua Newkirk say in her lawsuit against Douglas Elliman?

In her lawsuit, Newkirk claimed that Douglas Elliman realtor Madeline Hult Elghanayan told her, "I only specialize in luxury real estate transactions" while others were not aware of a Section 8 housing voucher.

The woman shared that she attempted to find agents who could have helped her use her Section 8 voucher in spring but failed to get a satisfactory response.

Newkirk also mentioned that she found a list of New York City’s most successful agents and brokers who she contacted for support.

However, the lawsuit said that "Newkirk was unable to secure alternative housing prior to the expiration of her voucher."

It also alleged that she was "forced to remain in a decrepit rodent and vermin-infested apartment."

The names of Douglas Elliman agents who failed to help Newkirk, as mentioned in the lawsuit, include Noble Black, Holly Parker, Frances Katzen, Lauren Muss, Elana Schoppmann, Diane Johnson, Eleonora Srugo, Ann Cutbill Lenane, and Janna Raskopf.

Elghanayan and Jennifer Kalish as well as former employees Tamir Shemesh and Tal and Oren Alexander were also named in the complaint.

One of the messages mentioned in the suit showed that Elghanayan allegedly told Newkirk, "I only specialize in luxury real estate transactions and don’t even know what sec 8 means."

Fellow realtor Johnson also allegedly asked her, "I really don’t know what Sec 8 voucher is?"

Kalish purportedly said, "At this moment I don’t have any landlords or owners that are accepting Section 8. But I will keep you in mind if anything comes to mind."

The complaint shows that Newkirk sent emails on June 14 and June 15, 2021 but did not receive a response.

The names of real estate agents who did not respond to Newkirk include Douglas Elliman employees Jane Powers, Neal Sroka, Joshua Lieberman, Rachel Medalie, Elena Sarkissian, Katzen, Muss, Bruce Erhmann, and Eileen Hsu.

Former realtors Sarah Burke, who now works for Compass, and the Alexander brothers, who left Elliman to start their own company called Official, were also listed as people who failed to respond to Newkirk. 

"I basically was named for not responding to an email," realtor Srugo told The Real Deal after the lawsuit.

"And when I search my inbox, I don’t have any record of ever receiving it," the realtor added.

The lawsuit further claimed that Douglas Elliman allegedly violated the city laws which require realtors to "prominently and conspicuously" display a link to the Fair Housing and Anti-Discrimination notice on its website.

"Only at the very end of the homepage in tiny font under the heading of State Disclosures is a link to the Fair Housing and Anti-Discrimination Notice," it stated.

"Defendants are more concerned with their luxury brand than they are with following the law," the suit claimed. 

Other company executives including general counsel Kenneth Haber, Long Island CEO Ann Conroy, and executive vice president of residential leasing Hal D Gavzie have also been named in Newkirk's lawsuit.

Additionally, licensed Douglas Elliman brokers Kari Kaplan, Wendy E Sanders, Lauren Litt, Jaqueline Teplitzky, Andrew Anderson, and Suzan Kremer were also listed as defendants in the complaint.

According to the Daily Mail, another realtor Cybele Kadagian, who now works with Sotheby’s, offered to help Newkirk but she did not respond to the email, which said:

"Yes, landlords do accept Section 8. I do not currently have any of these apts. What are you willing to spend and what area?"

Shemesh, who left for Nest Seekers, told her, "Of course we are willing to help. How many bedrooms are you looking for and how much are you looking to spend?"

While Newkirk highlighted that she was looking for a one-bedroom flat and her voucher was for up to $1,705 per month, the agent allegedly did not reply to that email or follow up.

The woman also asked Parker if she had any apartments that would take on Section 8 vouchers but the latter reportedly responded saying, "I’m sorry but I don’t have access to those."

Jason Walker, Emily Sertic, and Andrew Azoulay, who works at Bespoke, also told Newkirk they did not have any listings that were accepting vouchers. 

"I wish that I could help you but I know that Section 8 housing right now it’s so hard to find and I never deal with it at all but good luck with your search," Lenane told Newkirk.

Internet reacts to Shaniqua Newkirk's lawsuit against Douglas Elliman

As Newkirk's lawsuit came to light, several social media users were left stunned and took to X, formerly Twitter, to share their reactions.

"With that name and 'low incomING' this looks like something The Babylon Bee would put out…," one user commented.

"I would estimate that 1/4 of my friends are or were Elliman realtors in addition to my girlfriend of 7yrs Which makes this all that much more hysterical b/c if u knew these people, then tried to envision them giving tours of the Marcy Projects in $2k Louboutin heels? HILARIOUS," one mentioned. 

"Your friends & girl probably know some of the Elliman realtors being sued. Shaniqua emailed all of them then sued anyone who didn't reply. Imagine getting sued for not responding to a work email? I'd have to live at the courthouse with how many suits I'd be dealing with," DeScushin responded. 

"I'd laugh and say this was ridiculous, but it is NYC. She'll probably get 5 million," another user wrote. 

"Seems like a pretty dishonest law suit that she will ironically win and then can buy a prized luxury property. If that’s the case everyone will follow suit," one added. 

One said, "This is Ridiculous", while another added, "Filed in NYC? She's gonna win!!"

What did Douglas Elliman say about Shaniqua Newkirk's lawsuit?

Douglas Elliman vehemently denied the allegations mentioned in Newkirk's lawsuit. 

"Douglas Elliman has a zero tolerance policy towards unfair and illegal treatment of any individual or group," a spokesman for the company mentioned, as per the Daily Mail.

"We pride ourselves on our mandatory agent training program that is inclusive of rigorous fair housing law education," they added.

Craig Gurian, an attorney who specializes in fair housing, told the publication that said violations are judged on whether the agents respond to a person the same way they would usually speak with another client.

The expert said he believes that realtors who told Newkirk they did not have apartments that qualify for Section 8 or said they did not work in that sector could be found guilty of a violation for not referring her to a colleague who could have helped her.

Those who did not reply to Newkirk could also be found to have violated fair housing laws if it is found they would respond to other client inquiries, the expert mentioned.

Douglas Elliman was reportedly named in a past investigation on fair housing violations on Long Island, the outlet noted. 

A 2019 report outlined pervasive discrimination against people of color who posed as property buyers. This resulted in a state probe where 67 agents and executives were allegedly issued with subpoenas.