On January 14, 2011, the United States Department of Justice filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, under the Fair Housing Act against a landlord. On behalf of a family of African-American tenants alleging housing discrimination, DOJ asked the Court for declaratory, injunctive, and monetary relief. The complaint alleges that the defendant landlords had abusively evicted the tenants, and yelled racial epithets at them repeatedly.

On April 11, 2011, the parties entered into a consent decree which enjoined the defendants from: 1) refusing to rent or negotiate for the rental of a dwelling to any person because of race or color, 2) making any advertising that indicates a preference, limitation, or discrimination based on race or color, 3) and coercing any person in the exercise or enjoyment of, or on account of his or her having exercised or enjoyed, rights granted or protected by the Fair Housing Act. The defendants agreed to pay $25,000 to the tenants and $5,000 in attorneys' fees. The duration of the order is three years.

Stacey McClurkin - 11/10/2011


compress summary