Landlord Sued After Trading Rent for Sex

law booksThe Department of Justice is prosecuting a Cincinnati landlord who may have sexually harassed female tenants at residential properties he has owned and managed.

The complaint, filed last week, alleges the landlord violated the Fair Housing Act by subjecting female tenants and applicants to unwanted verbal sexual advances, sexual contact, entering the apartments of female tenants without permission and notice, offering rent benefits for sex, and taking adverse actions against female tenants when they refused his sexual advances.

Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division issued a statement, “Landlords who abuse their power and authority in this way should be on notice that the Justice Department steadfastly enforces the Fair Housing Act throughout the United States.”

The suit seeks monetary damages for victims of the alleged harassment, civil penalties and a court order barring future discrimination and requiring additional preventive measures.

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