Zillow Faces Discrimination Claims in Court as Buyer Plaintiffs Seek Damages
The COURT REPORT is RISMedia’s weekly look at current and upcoming lawsuits, investigations and other legal developments around real estate.
A new lawsuit has emerged in the real estate world, with buyer plaintiffs seeking damages against Zillow for alleged discrimination. The case, Gibson v. National Association of Realtors et al, has resulted in a motion for final approval of settlement agreements with six parties. The plaintiffs are seeking to hold Zillow accountable for discriminatory practices in the housing market.
The lawsuit alleges that Zillow has contributed to housing discrimination by allowing real estate agents to pay for preferred placement on the website, potentially leading to unequal access to housing for marginalized communities. The plaintiffs argue that this practice violates the Fair Housing Act and have filed for damages to be determined by the court.
In addition to Zillow, the lawsuit also names other parties such as the National Association of Realtors and real estate brokerage firms. The plaintiffs have reached settlements with these parties, with the amounts to be determined by the court. However, Zillow has not yet reached a settlement and the case is still ongoing.
The lawsuit has sparked a larger conversation about discrimination in the real estate industry and the role that technology platforms play in perpetuating unequal access to housing. As the case moves forward, it will be interesting to see how it impacts the practices of popular real estate websites like Zillow.
https://www.rismedia.com/2025/09/30/court-report-new-filings-batton-dc-broker-lawsuit/