LANDMARK: Ohio Landlord Agrees to Pay $1 Million to Settle Sexual Harrassment Suit

A Cincinnati, Ohio landlord has agreed to pay $1 million — including $890,000 in compensation to 12 female tenants "for personal injury and emotional distress" and $110,000 as a civil penalty — for admittedly violating the Fair Housing Act's (FHA) ban on sex discrimination. The Department of Justice (DOJ) is calling the September 4, 2008 consent judgment "the largest monetary settlement the Department has ever obtained in a case alleging sexual harassment violations under the FHA."

According to the DOJ complaint, the landlord subjected these tenants to unwanted verbal sexual advances and touching, entered their apartments without notice or consent, granted or denied benefits in return for sexual favors, and took adverse action against tenants who refused or objected to his sexual advances.

Interesting to note:

Since January 1, 2001, the DOJ's Civil Rights Division has filed 259 cases to enforce the Fair Housing Act, including 27 cases involving alleged sex-based discrimination, according to the DOJ press release.