The Department of Justice (DOJ) has settled a Fair Housing Act lawsuit filed against an Ohio landlord accused of sexually harassing female tenants.
Toledo landlords Anthony Hubbard, Ann Hubbard, Jeffery Hubbard, PayUp LLC and No Joke Properties Inc. have agreed to pay $100,000 to resolve allegations that Anthony Hubbard harassed tenants at rental properties he owned or managed with the other defendants.
“People deserve to be safe in their homes and sexual harassment in housing deprives them of that right,” Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division said in a release. “The Justice Department will not tolerate landlords who abuse their power by sexually harassing their tenants, and we will continue to vigorously enforce the Fair Housing Act against landlords who engage in this conduct.”
The settlement, which must still be approved by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, requires the defendants pay a total of $90,000 to three female tenants who were harmed by Hubbard’s harassment and a $10,000 civil penalty to the United States.
The settlement also prohibits Anthony Hubbard from continuing to manage rental housing. It also requires Anthony Hubbard to retain an independent property manager to manage any rental properties he owns now or in the future.
In addition, the settlement requires each defendant to receive fair housing training and implement comprehensive non-discrimination policies and complaint procedures to prevent sexual harassment at their properties in the future.
“Exploiting any person’s basic housing needs as a way to sexually harass, demean and control them violates the law,” acting U.S. Attorney Bridget Brennan for the Northern District of Ohio said. “We remain committed to rooting out homeowners and landlords who target vulnerable residents seeking safe and affordable housing opportunities for them and their families.”
The lawsuit, filed in October 2019, alleged Anthony Hubbard engaged in unwelcome sexual harassment at properties he managed, including making unwelcome sexual advances and comments to female tenants; sending them unwanted sexual text messages, videos and photos; offering to reduce or excuse their monthly rental payments, security deposits and utility fees in exchange for sex acts; and entered the homes of female tenants without their consent and without prior notice.
Anthony Hubbard carried out some of this sexual harassment while managing properties on behalf of the other defendants, making them liable for the harassment he carried out while acting as their agent, the DOJ said.
This case was jointly litigated by attorneys in the Civil Rights Division and the Civil Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio. The Justice Department’s Sexual Harassment in Housing Initiative is led by the Civil Rights Division, in coordination with U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the country.