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WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The owner of a commercial real estate corporation that refused to lease space to a nonprofit organization that serves persons with disabilities will no longer discriminate against people with disabilities and will take corrective action to ensure that it doesn't happen in the future, under an agreement reached today with the Justice Department.

Today's out-of-court agreement resolves allegations that the Canadian-based TrizecHahn Corporation violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by not leasing office property to a non-profit corporation. TrizecHahn owns, manages and develops retail and office properties throughout the United States, including Rosslyn, Virginia.

"Refusing to lease to organizations merely because they serve persons with disabilities is a flagrant ADA violation and will not be tolerated," said Bill Lann Lee, Acting Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights. "Leasing agents who engage in this kind of conduct should be on notice that the Justice Department will vigorously enforce the laws that protect businesses and organizations from this kind of discrimination. We are pleased that TrizecHahn took quick action to resolve the matters brought in this case."

The original complaint, filed with the Justice Department in 1998, alleged that TrizecHahn refused to lease office space to an independent living center that provides services to individuals with disabilities. The EndDependence Center, based in Arlington, Virginia, attempted to lease office space in TrizecHahn's Rosslyn, Virginia, building, but the leasing agent refused to enter into any negotiations with the center and instead, simply refused to lease the space to the center solely because the center serves persons with disabilities, a direct violation of Title III of the ADA.

Under the terms of the agreement, TrizecHahn will:

• no longer discriminate against individuals with disabilities when leasing commercial real estate;

• pay $550,000 to the center and $10,000 in civil penalties to the United States;

• train employees in the Washington, DC area on the requirements of the ADA that pertain to the leasing of commercial real estate;

• inform the Justice Department of any future discrimination complaints in the Washington, DC area; and,

• provide documentation to the Justice Department that relate to its compliance with the agreement.

  Individuals interested in finding out more about the ADA can call the Department's toll-free information line at (800) 514-0301 or (800) 514-0383 (TDD) or access the ADA Home Page on the World Wide Web at [http:/www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/adahoml.htm].

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