DFEH Obtains Temporary Restraining Order against Santa Rosa Landlord

Sacramento – The California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) has obtained a temporary restraining order halting the eviction of a tenant who filed a discrimination complaint with DFEH against a Santa Rosa landlord.

The complaint filed on March 21, 2018 alleges she was subjected to sexual harassment, racial discrimination, and retaliatory eviction for complaining about the unlawful conduct of the building manager at the apartment building on 526 B Street in Santa Rosa. The Sonoma County Superior Court issued an order on March 29, 2018 halting the eviction proceedings based on a finding that DFEH has probable cause to believe the allegations of the tenant’s complaint. DFEH has statutory authority to halt an eviction or seek other injunctive relief when it finds probable cause to believe that the allegations in a discrimination complaint are true and demonstrate a violation of the Fair Employment and Housing Act.

“It is illegal for landlords to retaliate against tenants who oppose discrimination or assert their rights under California’s fair housing laws,” said DFEH Director Kevin Kish. “DFEH will not hesitate to take legal action to oppose retaliatory eviction proceedings.”

A hearing on the preliminary injunction will be held in Department 18 of the Sonoma County Superior Court located at 3055 Cleveland Avenue in Santa Rosa on April 5, 2018 at 2:30 p.m.

DFEH Staff Counsel Jeanette Hawn represented DFEH in this proceeding.

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.

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