General News
11/6/2009 4:29 PM ET
(RTTNews) -
The Justice Department announced Friday that the U.S. has reached a settlement resolving a housing discrimination lawsuit in Tennessee concerning discrimination against families with children.
According to the department, defendants Fountainbleau Apartments, Clark W. Taylor Inc., Clark Taylor, Jane McElroy, Elizabeth Foster and CWT Management violated the Fair Housing Act by refusing to rent apartments to people with children and discouraging people with children from renting dwellings owned and managed by the defendants.
Instead, the defendants steered people with children to another apartment complex and made statements that discriminated on the basis of familial status.
"The Fair Housing Act ensures that families searching for a home are protected from discrimination," said department official Thomas Perez. "The Justice Department will continue to vigorously protect the civil rights of families in Tennessee and across the country."
Under the consent decree, which must be approved by the federal court in Chattanooga, the defendants must pay $116,500 to 15 identified victims of discrimination and an additional $15,000 to the government as a civil penalty.
In addition, the settlement calls for numerous corrective measures, including training, a non-discrimination policy, record keeping and monitoring.
by RTT Staff Writer
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