NAR employee files discrimination suit 

A former employee with the National Association of Realtors has filed suit against the beleaguered association, claiming that she was fired and subjected to retaliation for complaining about discrimination and sexual harassment.

The lawsuit was filed June 18 in Illinois District Court on behalf of Roshani Sheth, who worked for NAR as a project manager from 2014-2019. She is seeking more than $2 million in damages.

What the case is about: Sheth, who is of Indian descent, faced "various acts of 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 lawsuit said. After Sheth complained, she was fired.

She also endured retaliation that included "refusal to provide a neutral reference to prospective employers" and cyberstalking that included harassing and threatening texts with shorthand references to "kill yourself" and being a "rat," the lawsuit said.

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.

Sheth said she got a severance payment that included a nondisclosure agreement, but she spoke with the Times anyway, saying she believed others were facing similar treatment and that "the way for a company to win is to get somebody not to talk."

What NAR had to say: When contacted for comment, an NAR spokesperson said, "The National Association of Realtors is committed to fostering a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace. We don't comment on matters of employment."

Correction: A previous  version of this story misstated the amount of damages Sheth is seeking.