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JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SUES TEXAS LANDLORD FOR SEXUAL HARASSMENT

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The manager of an apartment complex for low income residents in McKinney, Texas, was sued today by the Justice Department for allegedly sexually harassing female tenants.

The suit, filed in U.S. District Court in Dallas, alleges that Kevin Hinds, former manager of the Manor House Apartments in McKinney, subjected female tenants to repeated and unwelcome sexual comments, sexual touching, and in some cases, sexual assaults. It is also alleged that Hinds demanded sexual favors from female tenants and evicted or otherwise retaliated against women who did not submit to his sexual advances.

"While sexual harassment in housing isn't as publicized as sexual harassment in employment, its effect is no less devastating," said Bill Lann Lee, Acting Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights. "The Justice Department has zero tolerance for sexual harassment in housing and will vigorously prosecute landlords who engage in this type of discrimination."

Several Manor House tenants filed complaints with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which investigated the complaints, then referred the case to the Justice Department in November 1998.

Today's suit seeks compensatory and punitive damages on behalf of the victims, and asks for civil penalties and injunctive relief barring future discrimination. In addition, the suit alleges a pattern of discrimination that extended to other victims.

Manor House is a privately owned, federally subsidized complex reserved for low-income persons, and most of the alleged victims were African-American or Hispanic single mothers.

"Single mothers whose families may be only a step away from a homeless shelter are particularly vulnerable to sexual harassment by housing providers," added Mr. Lee. "Often times, housing providers have keys to the victim's home and may threaten eviction if the victim does not cooperate."

Named as defendants are Kevin Hinds; Stillmeadow Property Management, Inc., the management company for which he worked; Prestonwood Properties, Inc., the company that owned the property when the discrimination allegedly took place; and the sole shareholders of Prestonwood, Ronald Hinds and Leslie Hinds. The lawsuit does not allege discrimination by the current owner or manager of Manor House.

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