The Justice Department announced today that it has secured a settlement resolving allegations that Worcester, Massachusetts, landlord Mohan Prashad and his maintenance worker, David Besaw, violated the Fair Housing Act by sexually harassing female tenants. The settlement also resolves claims against Lanaton LLC and Savton LLC, which, along with Prashad, owned the properties where the harassment occurred.
Under the consent decree, which still must be approved by the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, defendants are required to pay $65,000 to compensate individuals harmed by the harassment and a $10,000 civil penalty, and vacate a judgment that defendants had obtained against a former tenant in housing court. The consent decree bars future discrimination and retaliation, requires that property management responsibilities be turned over to one or more individuals approved by the United States, mandates the implementation of a sexual harassment policy and complaint procedure and Fair Housing Act training, and requires detailed reporting regarding property management activities and compliance with the terms of the consent decree. The consent decree also bars Prashad and Besaw from participating in property management responsibilities at residential rental properties.
“Sexually harassing tenants in their homes and retaliating against those who lodge complaints are egregious forms of sex discrimination that violate the Fair Housing Act,” said Assistant...
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