Department of Justice Seal

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CR

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2000

(202) 514-2008

WWW.USDOJ.GOV

TDD (202) 514-1888


JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI, APARTMENT OWNER TO PAY $200,000

TO SETTLE ALLEGATIONS OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION


WASHINGTON, D.C. -- A Jackson, Mississippi, apartment owner has agreed to pay $200,000 to resolve allegations that he and his rental agents discriminated against African- American apartment seekers, under an agreement reached with the Justice Department.

Today's agreement, filed in U.S. District Court in Jackson, Mississippi, resolves a lawsuit filed by the Justice Department in November 1998, which alleged that A. Waddell Nejam, owner of A. Waddell Nejam Properties, which operates several rental properties in the Belhaven area of Jackson, and his rental agents gave false information about apartment availability to African-Americans. The Justice Department developed this case through its fair housing testing program, which has resulted in more than 50 cases nationwide.

"Denying individuals housing on the basis of their race will not be tolerated," said Bill Lann Lee, Acting Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights. "The Justice Department is committed to eradicating housing discrimination, which far too often goes undetected. We will continue to ensure that, in Jackson and elsewhere, the law is followed."

Under the agreement, which must be approved by the court, Nejam will:

  • compensate 35 known victims of the company's practices in amounts ranging from $1000 to $6500 each;

  • establish a settlement fund of $12,000 to compensate any unidentified victims;

ensure that all employees undergo fair housing training and publicize his non-discrimination policies in newspaper advertisements; and, pay a $5,000 civil penalty to the United States.

"Open and announced racism is not the only form of housing discrimination which is against the law," said Brad Pigott, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi. "Discrimination through fraud, in which African-Americans are falsely told that no apartments are available for rent while white applicants are told otherwise, is also against the law."

During the Justice Department's investigation, trained white testers were told that units were available or would soon become available, while similarly qualified African-American testers allegedly were told that there were no vacancies or were given incomplete information about current or future openings.

Individuals who believe that they may have been the victims of housing discrimination at Nejam Properties should call the Housing Section of the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department at 1-800-896-7743 or 202-514-4752 or the United States Attorney's Office at (601) 965-4480.

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