A property manager is taking legal action against a major online platform, alleging discrimination and economic harm. Lynley Kerr Hogan filed a complaint in the Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco, on August 21, 2024, against Craigslist.
Hogan's lawsuit accuses Craigslist of negligent interference with prospective economic relations/advantage, violations of First Amendment protected speech, and violations of the Unruh Civil Rights Act. The plaintiff claims that her advertisements for rental properties and personal items were repeatedly removed from the site without explanation starting in November 2021. Hogan asserts that these actions have caused her significant financial losses, including over two and a half years' worth of rental income amounting to $82,500.
The complaint details how Hogan had successfully used Craigslist for decades to post ads until they began being inexplicably removed in late 2021. She suspects that her conservative political views and media portrayal as anti-LGBTQ may have led someone at Craigslist to target her accounts. "CRAIGSLIST continues to remove Ms. HOGAN’s advertisements making it impossible for her to use her CRAIGSLIST accounts for advertising her personal items and her rental business," the complaint states.
Hogan alleges that despite numerous attempts to contact Craigslist for clarification or resolution, she received no response. This lack of communication forced her to create new accounts using different devices and information, only for those ads to be removed as well. The plaintiff argues that these actions by Craigslist disrupted her economic relationships with potential tenants and buyers, causing substantial financial harm.
In addition to monetary damages exceeding $35,000, Hogan seeks preliminary and permanent injunctive relief to prevent further removal of her ads. She also demands exemplary damages totaling $246,000 and a civil penalty under the Unruh Civil Rights Act amounting to $25,000.
Representing herself pro se in this case (Case No.: CGC-24-617375), Hogan has named Marivic D. Viray as the deputy clerk involved in the filing process.