Department of Justice Seal Department of Justice
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2002
WWW.USDOJ.GOV
CRT
(202) 514-2007
TDD (202) 514-1888

JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SUES OWNERS AND MANAGER OF
JUNCTION CITY, KANSAS MOBILE HOME PARK FOR SEXUAL HARASSMENT


WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Justice Department today sued the owners and managers of a mobile home park in Kansas for allegedly sexually harassing a female tenant.

The suit, filed in U.S. District Court in Kansas, alleges that Trinidad Maldonado, the manager and owner of the 116-lot Midway Mobile Home Park in Junction City, Kansas, subjected a female tenant to repeated and unwelcome sexual comments, solicitations for sex, and unwanted physical touching.

The suit also names as a defendant Centro Rental Inc., which also owns the Park. The Park is located near Fort Riley military base where a number of its personnel reside.

"Sexual harassment in housing is an egregious violation of a woman's right to fair housing," said Ralph F. Boyd, Jr., Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights. "No woman should have to fear harassment by the landlord who holds a key to her home. The Justice Department will vigorously prosecute landlords who engage in this type of discrimination."

The former tenant filed a complaint with the Department of Housing and Urban Development alleging sexual harassment. After investigating the complaint, HUD issued a charge of discrimination, and referred the matter to the Justice Department, which filed its complaint today on behalf of the former tenant and her family.

"This is another example of HUD's commitment to enforcing every aspect of the Fair Housing Act," said Kenneth Marcus, General Deputy Assistant Secretary for HUD's office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. "It is intolerable that a woman would have to sacrifice the security of her home simply because of an unethical landlord."

Today's suit seeks monetary damages to compensate the victim and her family for injury caused by the harassment, punitive damages, and a court order barring future discrimination by the defendants.

Anyone who has information about this case, or believes he or she was a victim of discrimination at the Midway Mobile Home Park in Junction City, Kansas, should call the Justice Department's Housing and Civil Enforcement Section at 1-800-896-7743. Other persons who believe that they have been sexually harassed by, or otherwise discriminated against by, their landlord may contact the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) at 1-800-669-9777. Additional information is available on HUD's website at: http://www.hud.gov.

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