U.S. Files New Complaint in Whistleblower Suit Against City of LA to Recover Millions of Dollars Obtained by Making False Promises to Provide Accessible Housing
In a new complaint filed August 1, 2017, the United States alleges that the City of Los Angeles and the CRA/LA (formerly the Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Los Angeles) together fraudulently obtained millions of dollars in housing grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) by falsely certifying that the money was being spent in compliance with federal accessibility laws.
The lawsuit, United States ex rel. Ling, et al. v. City of Los Angeles, et al., CV11-974-PG, was originally filed in U.S. District Court by whistleblowers Mei Ling, a resident of Los Angeles who uses a wheelchair, and the Fair Housing Council of San Fernando Valley, a nonprofit civil rights advocacy group.
The new complaint alleges the city and CRA/LA received federal money by falsely promising to create accessible housing for people with disabilities. Instead of creating accessible housing, they used the money to create inaccessible housing that deprived people with disabilities an equal opportunity to find housing of their choice.
The city repeatedly certified its compliance with federal accessibility laws to obtain the federal funds without taking the required steps to ensure it complied, according to the complaint, which further alleges that many of the HUD-assisted apartment buildings failed to meet minimal accessibility requirements. The city allegedly approved the design and construction of inaccessible buildings, with, among other things:
- slopes and ramps that are too steep for safe passage by persons with mobility disabilities;
- door thresholds that are too tall for wheelchairs to roll over;
- steps that prohibit access to common areas;
- kitchen cabinets, shelves and surfaces that are outside of the accessible reach ranges of persons who use wheelchairs;
- sinks, grab bars, mailboxes and circuit breakers mounted beyond the reach of wheelchair users;
- pipes below sinks and lavatories that are not insulated, thereby posing a physical threat of burns to people who use wheelchairs; and
- insufficient numbers of accessible parking spaces in garages and lots.
“Despite the federal government investing hundreds of millions of dollars in Los Angeles to create housing for everyone, the City of Los Angeles instead created housing only for some,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Sandra R. Brown for the Central District of California. “For 17 years, the city falsely certified that it had complied with federal law and covered up its repeated disregard of historic and important civil rights laws.”
The lawsuit was filed under the qui tam – or whistleblower – provisions of the False Claims Act, which permit private parties to sue on behalf of the United States when they believe that a party has submitted false claims for government funds, and to receive a share of any recovery.
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May 9, 2025
