💼 Disruption at the Top? NAR Faces New Heat in Sheth Lawsuit 🔥
By now, you know I don’t just cover market caps and Metaverses—I also zero in when legacy institutions clash with accountability…and oof, the story unfolding at the National Association of Realtors (NAR) is one for the digital books. 🧐📚
Let’s decode what’s going down in a saga that’s teetering between the courtroom and crisis management—and sparking some real convos around workplace culture, power dynamics, and yes, systemic bias.
👩🏽💼 The Plaintiff: Former NAR employee, Roshani Sheth.
⚖️ The Case: Alleged discrimination, sexual harassment, retaliation—and a counterplay of legal dismissals.
📍The Update: NAR has filed (yep, again!) to dismiss Sheth’s latest amended complaint.
Let’s break this madness down like ChatGPT-4 on espresso 🚀📈👇
🧾 Round 3: Sheth’s Revised Legal Comeback
After an initial wave of claims was tossed by a Chicago federal judge back in April—with the exception of a breach of contract allegation—Sheth came back in June with a legally beefed-up second amended complaint. That claim now leans heavily on Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Illinois Human Rights Act (IHRA), teeing up allegations of ongoing retaliation and discrimination.
Notably, Sheth’s complaint charges NAR with striking back after she reported being harassed and discriminated against—both for her gender and her Indian heritage, explicitly naming execs including Donna Gland, Linda Russell, and (former) legal chief Katie Johnson. 👀
📜 NAR Says: “We Already Settled This, Remember?”
In Tuesday’s filing, NAR argues that everything Sheth’s complaining about happened before December 2019—when both sides signed a general release agreement post-employment. Translation in legalese? “She already cashed out. Case closed.”
But wait, there’s more.
NAR’s lawyers contend that Sheth’s latest claims are “implausible,” call her allegations “speculative,” and—just to drive it home—suggest that she’s trying to get the court to “indulge in conjecture.” ☕ Bold vibes for sure.
🟨 The Breach Claim Still Stands
The only remaining legal hurdle for NAR? That pesky breach of contract claim. Everything else? They’ve motioned to dismiss with prejudice—meaning they want those claims buried for good. NAR claims Sheth hasn’t sufficiently linked her “protected activity” to any “adverse action,” and also questions whether the named execs’ alleged misdeeds are even legally tied to the organization. 🧠
📉 Legacy Institutions, Meet the Accountability Era
This case isn’t unfolding in a vacuum. You’ll remember last August’s bombshell New York Times exposé, where multiple women accused NAR leadership—especially then-president Kenny Parcell—of sexual harassment and creating a “culture of fear.” Parcell, facing overwhelming public pressure, bowed out shortly after. 🧨
Now, Sheth’s case seems to sit atop a growing stack of allegations destabilizing one of the most powerful trade organizations in U.S. real estate. 👔🏠 In an industry ripe for disruption, this is a reminder: even century-old pillars can crack when they’re not built on integrity.
💬 My Take? Culture is tech too.
Culture doesn’t run on code—it runs on behavior, values, and accountability systems. Whether we’re coding smart contracts or cultivating ethical leadership, transparency is the alpha. And baby, Gen Z, AI, and Web3 are watching 👁️👁️.
What happens next in courtroom Chicago could reset how industry organizations handle whistleblowers, workplace discrimination—and maybe even change the perception of power in real-world systems. Real estate leaders? You’re being indexed by more than listings. You’re being indexed for values. 💥👩🏽⚖️
Stay tuned. This isn’t just another lawsuit—it’s a ledger moment in leadership.
— Anita
