Landlord who ‘started evicting female tenants who refused to have sex with him’ is sued for 11-year reign of terror

A LANDLORD who allegedly began evicting tenants after they refused to have sex with him has been sued….CONTINUE READING...CONTINUE READING

A lawsuit has been filed against the unnamed Ohio man by the Department of Justice (DOJ).

The landlord is accused of discriminating against and harassing female tenants from around 2009 through 2020, according to the DOJ.

This alleged behavior is in violation of the Fair Housing Act.

Records obtained by the Bradenton Herald

revealed that the DOJ has also filed a suit against an LLC.

The landlord owned and operated various rental properties

through the LLC, according to records from the US District Court for the Northern District of Ohio.

The Department of Justice revealed details of the landlord’s alleged harassment, which included entering renters’ homes without permission, touching tenants, and offering to waive rent in exchange for sexual activity.

Officials said the landlord “initiated evictions or threatened to evict tenants who refused his sexual advances.”

In one instance from 2012 that was highlighted in the lawsuit, officials said the landlord “repeatedly made unwelcome propositions for sex to a tenant while she was cleaning rental units to pay her rent.”

“He also touched her without her permission, including on her breasts and buttocks,” the lawsuit stated.

“He came to her home, where he attempted to pull away a blanket with which she had covered herself to answer the door, and he stated that she could pay her rent with sex.”

The tenant refused, according to authorities, but said she worked for him for a week to cover her rent.

But after refusing sex, the tenant was evicted anyway after the landlord changed the locks, according to the suit.

“No tenant should have to endure sexual propositions, sexual comments or unwelcome physical contact from their landlord,” Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division said in a statement.

“Sexual harassment in housing is wrong, immoral, and illegal.”

According to the lawsuit, officials are seeking a jury trial, a court order banning discrimination in the future, monetary compensation for those who were harassed, and civil penalties against

The lawsuit seeks a jury trial, a court order that bans future discrimination, monetary damages for those who were harassed, and civil penalties against the landlord….CONTINUE READING