Los Angeles to Pay $38 Million to Resolve Housing Fraud Claims

Los Angeles will pay the US roughly $38 million to settle False Claims Act allegations that it failed to comply with disability requirements in federally funded housing.

The July 5 proposed settlement will resolve the 2011 qui tam lawsuit brought by whistleblower Mei Ling. Ling, who uses a wheelchair, alleged that many of the city’s properties skirted US Department of Housing and Urban Development’s accessibility requirements. Ling and the Fair Housing Council of San Fernando Valley alleged the properties have slopes and ramps too steep for people in wheelchairs, lacks accessible parking spaces, and have insufficient visual alarms and tactile ...