The U.S. Department of Justice filed a civil complaint against a Green Bay-area landlord alleging sexual harassment and discrimination on the basis of sex, violating the Fair Housing Act.
Richard Frohling, acting U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, filed a civil complaint July 24 against David Jones and D Jones Properties, LLC. According to a Justice Department news release, Jones manages multiple rental properties in the Green Bay area and he is accused of engaging in “severe, pervasive and unwelcome sexual harassment of a female tenant.”
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, LLC, 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.
The lawsuit is seeking monetary damages to compensate the female tenant and a court order barring future discrimination, the release said.
What does the civil complaint say?
According to a civil complaint:
What are the accusations against Jones?
The Department of Justice, on behalf the female tenant, alleges in the lawsuit that Jones and D Jones Properties LLC violated the Fair Housing Act in four ways:
The lawsuit claims that Jones issued the lease termination notice in retaliation for the woman sending the text message about the removed bracket and for her otherwise resisting Jones’ advances. Jones evicted the woman “in retaliation for her asserting her right to be free from sex discrimination in housing,” the lawsuit said.
Jones’ conduct caused the woman to suffer economic damages, the loss of housing and “significant fear, anxiety and emotional distress,” according to the complaint. The Justice Department demanded a jury trial in the matter.
Jones and his company have not yet filed a legal response to the complaint. The defendants have until Aug. 15 to respond to the complaint. Jones’ attorney, Philip Danen, was unavailable for comment.
Vivian Barrett is the public safety reporter for the Green Bay Press-Gazette. You can reach her at vmbarrett@greenbay.gannett.com or (920) 431-8314.
This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: U.S. Department of Justice sues Green Bay-area landlord, alleges sexual harassment of tenant
Reporting by Vivian Barrett, Green Bay Press-Gazette / Green Bay Press-Gazette
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