A Section 8 tenant is filing dozens of $100,000 lawsuits. Is it a discrimination fight or a shakedown?

[Zorro]

• A Section 8 voucher holder filed over 40 discrimination lawsuits against L.A. landlords and agents, with settlements reaching tens of thousands of dollars.
• Defendants claim it’s a shakedown, questioning whether misunderstanding Section 8 rules justifies six-figure legal costs.
• A 2025 study found 54% of L.A. landlords demonstrate Section 8 discrimination.

A gaggle of scorned landlords and real estate agents across L.A. have a message: If Alexys Watson messages you on Zillow asking if you accept Section 8 vouchers, choose your next words very, very carefully.

Over the last eight months, dozens of landlords and real estate agents have responded to Watson’s inquiries — and dozens have been sued for at least $100,000. The lawsuits allege discrimination for refusing a Section 8 applicant, regardless of whether they actually declined her application.

“I have to ask the owners and get back to you,” one agent wrote. $100,000 lawsuit.

“The house might be too old to meet the requirements,” another wrote. $100,000 lawsuit.

A review of hundreds of lawsuit exhibits show: One landlord accepted her application, but never got the house inspected by the city to qualify it for Section 8 tenancy. At least nine others never even put a decline into writing; the only exhibits in the lawsuits filed against them are screenshots of call logs (sans audio) and texts from Watson to each one claiming that they declined her over the phone.

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-03-10/section-8-lawsuits

Smells like a shakedown to me.

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

1. Its like that lawyer who sends a wheelchair user into small restaurabts

To use the restroom.

Then shakes down the owners for money.

This is an LA lawyer also