Justice Department Settles Allegations Of Sex Discrimination Against Minneapolis Landlords

  Justice Department Settles Allegations Of Sex Discrimination Against Minneapolis Landlords

 The Justice Department today announced an agreement with the owners and managers of several rental properties in and around Minneapolis, Minnesota to settle the federal government's allegations of systemic discrimination against female tenants. Under the settlement, which be approved by the U.S. District Court in Minn., the defendants must pay $352,500 to affected households and pay a civil penalty of $35,000.

 "No woman seeking housing for herself or her family should be subjected to such disgusting, degrading and discriminatory treatment," said Wan J. Kim, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. "The Justice Department will remain vigilant in fighting housing discrimination and prosecuting landlords who prey on female tenants."

"Minnesota is a wonderful place to live and raise a family," said Rachel K. Paulose, U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota. "We will not allow a few bad rental property owners and managers to tarnish the reputations of the many good people who provide affordable housing to women and their families across the state."

 The lawsuit alleged that Robert Wones, as an owner and as a management employee of S& R Property Management; Howard Melin; Welty Properties Inc.; and Shumel Management (the corporate defendants), violated the Fair Housing Act when Wones subjected female tenants to severe, pervasive and unwelcome sexual harassment at eight separate apartment complexes located in and around Minneapolis. Specifically, the complaint alleged that Wones engaged in unwelcome sexual touching of female tenants, made unwelcome sexual advances, conditioned the terms of women's tenancy on the granting of sexual favors, and took adverse actions against female tenants who refused or objected to his sexual advances. Read more at usdoj.gov