SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                             Current Report Pursuant
                          to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934

                                   May 9, 2003
                Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported)

                         ARCHSTONE-SMITH OPERATING TRUST
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

                                    Maryland
                 (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)

                                     1-10272
                            (Commission File Number)

                                   74-6056896
                      (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

               9200 East Panorama Circle, Suite 400, Englewood, CO
                    (Address of Principal Executive Offices)

                                      80112
                                   (Zip Code)

                                 (303) 708-5959
              (Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

                                 Not Applicable
          (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)



Item 5.  Other Events.

     A claim, Michel, et al, v. Archstone-Smith Operating Trust, et al., was
filed on May 9, 2003, and another claim, Semidey, et al, v. Archstone-Smith
Operating Trust et. al., was filed on June 9, 2003, in the Circuit Court of the
Eleventh Judicial Circuit in and for Miami-Dade County, Florida, on behalf of
classes of residents of two of our Southeast Florida properties. The cases
allege that mold contamination at these properties caused by faulty
air-conditioning resulted in both personal injury to the plaintiffs and damage
to their property. Plaintiffs seek both injunctive relief and unspecified
monetary and punitive damages. We believe the lawsuits are without merit and
intend to vigorously contest the claims asserted in this litigation. Due to the
preliminary nature of the litigation, it is not possible to predict or determine
the outcome of the legal actions, nor is it reasonably possible to estimate the
amount of loss associated with adverse decisions. No assurances can be given
that these lawsuits, if adversely determined, will not have a material adverse
effect on the company.

                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                             ARCHSTONE-SMITH OPERATING TRUST

Dated: June 10, 2003                         By: /s/ Jack R. Callison
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 Jack R. Callison
                                                 Group Vice President