Landlord Settles Sexual Harassment Lawsuit: Justice Department Secures $110,000 Settlement

The Justice Department has introduced the decision of a lawsuit in opposition to a landlord in St. Louis, Missouri, who allegedly sexually harassed a number of feminine tenants, in violation of the Fair Housing Act (FHA).

The settlement requires the owner, Nedzad Ukejnovic, to pay $110,000 to resolve the case, which incorporates compensation for the victims and sources expended by the Metropolitan St. Louis Equal Housing Opportunity Council.

The settlement is topic to approval by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri.

Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division expressed disapproval of landlords who sexually harass and exploit susceptible people, stating that such conduct is unacceptable. U.S. Attorney Sayler A. Fleming for the Eastern District of Missouri emphasised the seriousness of the allegations, highlighting the vulgar calls for for intercourse made by the defendant and the efforts to carry civil rights violators accountable.

Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Demetria L. McCain of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) echoed these sentiments, calling the owner’s actions abhorrent and affirming the dedication to implement honest housing legal guidelines.

The consent order mandates that the defendant rent an impartial property supervisor, endure honest housing coaching, and implement non-discrimination insurance policies and criticism procedures to stop sexual harassment in his rental properties.

Furthermore, the order prohibits the defendant from contacting the affected tenants, restricts his entry to the properties when a lease is in impact, and units safeguards to guard present and future tenants.

The lawsuit, filed in September 2022, outlined quite a few cases of harassment, together with unwelcome sexual advances, presents to scale back hire in trade for sexual acts, requests for specific images, inappropriate staring, unwelcome touching, and unauthorized entry into tenants’ houses.

HUD acquired two separate complaints, resulting in an investigation and the next involvement of the Justice Department.

Additional feminine tenants who had been sexually harassed by the defendant had been recognized in the course of the investigation.

The Justice Department’s Sexual Harassment in Housing Initiative, led by the Civil Rights Division in collaboration with U.S.

Attorneys’ Offices nationwide, goals to deal with and lift consciousness about sexual harassment perpetrated by people with housing management.

Since the initiative’s launch, the division has filed 31 lawsuits associated to sexual harassment in housing, leading to over $10.8 million in recoveries for victims.

The Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department is chargeable for implementing the Fair Housing Act, which prohibits housing discrimination based mostly on varied protected traits.

The division is dedicated to defending people from sexual misconduct.

Reporting sexual harassment or different housing discrimination could be finished by means of the Housing Discrimination Tip Line or by contacting HUD instantly.

The settlement within the landlord sexual harassment case signifies a big step in addressing the violation of tenants’ rights.

By holding the defendant accountable and implementing measures to stop future harassment, the Justice Department goals to safeguard people from such misconduct and promote honest housing practices.