The owner of a four-unit residential apartment building in West Springfield has been sued for violating state anti-discrimination laws, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s office said.

Mary Anna Cosentini allegedly refused to rent to a prospective tenant and her family because the woman participates in the Section 8 housing subsidy program administered through a local agency, according to a complaint filed by the attorney general.

According to the complaint, in September 2007, the prospective tenant met with Cosentini after responding to an advertisement for a three-bedroom apartment in West Springfield. After the prospective tenant told Cosentini she held a Section 8 housing voucher, Cosentini said she had concerns about the agency that provided the housing subsidy.

The complaint further alleges that Cosentini told the prospective tenant over the phone that that she would prefer not to work with "another agency," and she later refused to negotiate with the prospective tenant and rent to her.

"In the current economy, the need for rental or transitional housing assistance is particularly great and these programs are important as families are facing job losses and critical housing needs," said Coakley. "Landlords in Massachusetts must understand that it is illegal to refuse to rent to a person holding a Scection 8 voucher or to refuse to do business with an agency administering housing vouchers."

The attorney general’s office is seeking an order prohibiting Cosentini from engaging in housing discrimination and an award of damages, attorneys’ fees and costs.