Queens Couple Files Housing Discrimination Lawsuit Over Racially Charged Text

Lisa Renee Olaso and her fiancée, Cyril Christopher, moved from Delaware to Queens in June after Olaso secured a new job. While seeking a rental on 26th Avenue in Flushing, a broker from Douglas Elliman Realty was scheduled to meet them. According to Olaso, the broker never approached them in person; instead, she observed them from a distance. Olaso says she was inadvertently included on a text message intended for the property owner that read, “Ugh. They are Black.” The broker later explained that previous Black tenants had allegedly caused “a lot of trouble” in the neighborhood.

ABC7 New York

The couple has filed a lawsuit against Douglas Elliman Realty, the broker identified as Tzelios, and several property owners. Their attorney, Kenneth Mollins, argues that the text was not an isolated incident and suggests that the homeowner may share responsibility for the alleged discrimination. The complaint alleges that the broker’s conduct reflects racial profiling in violation of New York housing law.

ABC7 New York

The brokerage also indicated that messages have been left for the homeowners and the broker. No comment was provided by the property owners.

ABC7 New York

• “As we were getting out of the car, I received the text message that said, 'Ugh. They are Black,'” — Queens. Lisa Renee Olaso

ABC7 New York

• “When she looked at her phone, she started to explain that there were previous, Black tenants in the neighborhood and that they had caused a lot of trouble,” — Queens. Lisa Renee Olaso

ABC7 New York

• “Unless the person receiving the text gets it in some context to know, why she's sending that. So, we believe the homeowner was in some way responsible here,” — Kenneth Mollins

ABC7 New York

• “Douglas Elliman has a zero-tolerance policy for discrimination of any kind, and the agent is no longer with the company.” — Wednesday, a Douglas Elliman spokesperson

ABC7 New York

These quotations capture the couple’s experience, the attorney’s legal framing, and the brokerage’s official stance.

ABC7 New York