The Department of Justice (DOJ) recently announced that it has settled a handful of cases in which plaintiffs made allegations of sexual misconduct under the Fair Housing Act (FHA) and resulting discrimination. In one case, DOJ resolved a complaint filed against a Housing Authority in Indiana in which the allegations concerned sexual misconduct and discrimination based on disabilities. Another case, this one from Michigan, also involved allegations of sexual discrimination. Shortly after announcing a resolution of these cases (as well as another from Kansas), the DOJ announced an initiative to combat sexual harassment in housing.
The Michigan action resulted in the owner of rental properties agreeing to pay $150,000 to settle allegations that he sexually harassed multiple women who lived in or inquired about his rental offerings. Under the terms of an agreement, the defendant promised to pay $140,000 to ten victims of discrimination as well as a $10,000 penalty to the United States. The complaint asserted that the defendant made unwelcome sexual comments and advances, engaged in unwanted touching, offered housing benefits in exchange for sexual acts, and threatened to take adverse housing action against women who refused his harassment.
The Indiana case was filed after an investigation demonstrated that employees of a local Housing Authority subjected female residents to unlawful sexual harassment and discriminated against residents with disabilities. The complaint asserted women were subjected to unwanted sexual conduct, questions, making explicit comments, and showing inappropriate pictures and videos. The claims also included denying reasonable accommodation requests (including efforts to be transferred to first floor units and efforts to obtain designated accessible parking spots). To resolve the matter, the Housing Authority agreed to pay $70,000 to compensate seven victims of discrimination.
The initiative – which will be piloted in Washington, D.C. and in western Virginia – will work to identify barriers to reporting sexual harassment and search for new ways to cooperate and collaborate between local law enforcement, legal service providers, and public housing authorities to leverage their respective expertise. In announcing the initiative, DOJ noted that it has recovered over $1 million for victims of sexual harassment in housing in 2017.
Given the increased media attention and coverage of allegations of sexual harassment of women in various walks of life, I believe this is a good time for professional apartment management to take a look at our policies in place to prevent sexual harassment and perhaps even to schedule some refresher training. Indeed, one client contacted me last week to schedule a session.
Just A Thought.
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