The U.S. Department of Justice reached a $50,000 settlement with a Green Bay-area landlord accused of sexually harassing a female tenant, though the landlord maintains his innocence, according to court documents filed March 3.
A civil complaint was filed July 24 in the Eastern District of Wisconsin against David Jones and D Jones Properties, LLC, accusing the Green Bay area landlord of “”severe, pervasive and unwelcome sexual harassment of a female tenant,” according to a Department of Justice news release.
D Jones Properties owns 15 properties in Brown County, according to county land records. Jones, of Wrightstown, is listed as the registered agent of D Jones Properties, according to Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions records.
The Justice Department took on the case following a complaint made to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the release said. HUD conducted an investigation and issued a discrimination charge.
According to the civil complaint, the tenant moved into a property owned by Jones in September 2021. The complaint said Jones often entered the tenant’s apartment without prior notice or knocking, grabbed her without her consent and made unwelcome and uncomfortable comments about her personal life..
Jones issued a lease termination notice to the tenant on March 9, 2022; the same day she complained to Jones about him removing a 2-by-4 bracket she had installed on her door to prevent him from entering unannounced, the complaint said. An eviction order was granted on Aug. 4, 2022, and the tenant moved out at the end of August 2022.
The lawsuit accused Jones of issuing the lease termination in retaliation for the tenant’s complaint about the removed bracket and for her otherwise resisting Jones’ advances.
The Justice Department and Jones reached a settlement in the case that requires Jones to pay the tenant $50,000 in damages, court records show. He is required to pay the first $10,000 by March 18 and the remaining $40,000 by July 1, according to the settlement agreement.
The settlement agreement also prohibits Jones from contacting the tenant and requires him to do the following:
The Justice Department will move to dismiss the case against Jones once he provides proof that the monetary damages were fully paid.
Jones and his company still deny the allegations from the government, the settlement agreement stipulated.
Vivian Barrett is the public safety reporter for the Green Bay Press-Gazette. You can reach her at vmbarrett@usatodayco.com or (920) 431-8314.
This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Green Bay landlord accused of harassment settles; maintains innocence
Reporting by Vivian Barrett, Green Bay Press-Gazette / Green Bay Press-Gazette
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