ID :
170510
Thu, 03/24/2011 - 12:02
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/170510
The shortlink copeid
A Seattle based housing society to Pay USD 110K for keeping Indians and African-Americans out
Houston, Mar 24 (PTI) A Seattle-based housing society
will pay over USD 110,000 to settle a US Justice Department
lawsuit that alleged the society discriminated against Indians
and African-Americans seeking to rent apartments in the
complex.
According to the lawsuit filed on July 26, 2010,
owners and operators of Summerhill Place Apartments, in Renton
near Seattle, "steered Indian tenants away from the Summerhill
buildings and treated tenants from India less favourably than
other tenants."
They also discouraged African-Americans, Hispanics and
families with children from living at Summerhill.
Under the terms of the settlement, apartment owners
Summerhill Place LLC, as well as a management company called
Gran Inc and the apartment manager, Rita Lovejoy, will pay
USD 85,000 to tenants and prospective tenants who were harmed
by the discrimination.
The group will also pay USD 25,000 to the government
as a civil penalty and enact a number of changes to the
apartments.
The settlement must still be approved by the US
District Court for the Western District of Washington.
"Working families already face enough challenges
finding affordable housing," Thomas E Perez, Assistant
Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division, said.
"Unlawful discrimination because of their race, their
national origin, or because they have children, should not be
one of them."
The lawsuit was filed after the Fair Housing Council
of Washington conducted investigations at Summerhill, and the
results were reported to the Department of Housing and
Urban Development (HUD).
After an investigation, the secretary of HUD
determined that there was reasonable cause to believe that
discriminatory housing practices had occurred, issued a charge
of discrimination, and referred the matter to the Department
of Justice.
Under the terms of the settlement, the defendants
also have to provide fair housing training to their employees,
and develop and maintain non-discrimination policies at
Summerhill.
will pay over USD 110,000 to settle a US Justice Department
lawsuit that alleged the society discriminated against Indians
and African-Americans seeking to rent apartments in the
complex.
According to the lawsuit filed on July 26, 2010,
owners and operators of Summerhill Place Apartments, in Renton
near Seattle, "steered Indian tenants away from the Summerhill
buildings and treated tenants from India less favourably than
other tenants."
They also discouraged African-Americans, Hispanics and
families with children from living at Summerhill.
Under the terms of the settlement, apartment owners
Summerhill Place LLC, as well as a management company called
Gran Inc and the apartment manager, Rita Lovejoy, will pay
USD 85,000 to tenants and prospective tenants who were harmed
by the discrimination.
The group will also pay USD 25,000 to the government
as a civil penalty and enact a number of changes to the
apartments.
The settlement must still be approved by the US
District Court for the Western District of Washington.
"Working families already face enough challenges
finding affordable housing," Thomas E Perez, Assistant
Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division, said.
"Unlawful discrimination because of their race, their
national origin, or because they have children, should not be
one of them."
The lawsuit was filed after the Fair Housing Council
of Washington conducted investigations at Summerhill, and the
results were reported to the Department of Housing and
Urban Development (HUD).
After an investigation, the secretary of HUD
determined that there was reasonable cause to believe that
discriminatory housing practices had occurred, issued a charge
of discrimination, and referred the matter to the Department
of Justice.
Under the terms of the settlement, the defendants
also have to provide fair housing training to their employees,
and develop and maintain non-discrimination policies at
Summerhill.
