Fair Housing Enforcement News:
HUD CHARGES CALIFORNIA LANDLORD WITH SEXUAL HARASSMENT & DISCRIMINATION
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has charged the owner, property manager, and maintenance worker of a single-family property in Bakersfield, California, with sexually harassing a female tenant and retaliating against her when she complained about it, in violation of the Fair Housing Act. Read HUD’s Charge. The Act prohibits housing providers from discriminating because of sex, including sexual harassment - unwelcome sexual advances and comments, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical behavior that is sexual in nature.
HUD’s Charge of Discrimination alleges that the maintenance worker harassed the tenant because of her sex, including daily sending her graphic sexual text messages and groping her in her home. After the tenant told him that the conduct was unwelcome and complained to the property manager, saying she planned to go to the police, the landlord allegedly refused to make critical repairs to her heating appliance, leaving her without heat and gas for a month. The tenant's daughter fell ill from the lack of heat. As the tenant was vacating her home, the landlord changed the lock on her door to prevent her from getting her belongings and refused to return her security deposit.
A U. S. Administrative Law Judge will hear HUD’s charge unless any party elects to have the case heard in federal district court. If an administrative law judge finds, after a hearing, that discrimination has occurred, the judge may award damages to the tenant for losses as a result of the discrimination. The judge may also order injunctive relief and other equitable relief, to deter further discrimination, as well as payment of attorney fees. The judge also may impose civil penalties. If the federal court hears the case, the judge may also award punitive damages.
People who believe they are the victims of housing discrimination should contact HUD at (800) 669-9777 (voice) 800-927-9275 (TTY) or the Department of Justice at (800) 896-7743 or 202-514-4713. Additional information is available at www.hud.gov/fairhousing and www.justice.gov.
