DFEH Settles Sexual Harassment Case Against Marin County Landlord
September 17, 2018
For Immediate Release
PublicAffairs@calcivilrights.ca.gov
916-938-4113
Former tenant to receive $75,000 after owner sexually harassed and then evicted her after she obtained restraining order
Sacramento – The California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) has reached a settlement in a housing discrimination case involving a tenant who alleged a homeowner who rented her a room in his house sexually harassed her and then evicted her after she filed a police report against him.
In June 2018, the complainant filed complaints for housing discrimination and violations of the Unruh Civil Rights Act, alleging that the owner of a residential house in which she rented a downstairs room sexually harassed her over the course of a year and a half including kissing her on the mouth, grabbing her buttocks, and exposing himself to her. The complainant alleged the owner became increasingly hostile after she rejected his advances. No longer feeling safe in her
home and also noticing that some of her belongings had disappeared, the complainant filed a police report and sought a restraining order against the respondent, which the court granted. Immediately following service of the restraining order, the homeowner served the complainant with a 30-day eviction notice.
The parties engaged in voluntary pre-investigation mediation in the DFEH’s Dispute Resolution Division, resulting in a settlement in which the owner will pay the complainant $75,000.
“Landlords who sexually harass and retaliate against tenants who resist their advances can expect to be held accountable,” said DFEH Director Kevin Kish.
In addition to a monetary settlement, the owners will undergo fair housing training that addresses sexual harassment prevention and retaliation.
DFEH Attorney Mediator, Yu-Yee Wu, mediated the case.
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The California Civil Rights Department (CRD) is the state agency charged with enforcing California’s civil rights laws. CRD’s mission is to protect the people of California from unlawful discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations, and state-funded programs and activities, and from hate violence and human trafficking. For more information, visit calcivilrights.ca.gov.
View Press Release: DFEH Settles Sexual Harassment Case Against Marin County Landlord