Massachusetts AG Continues Effort Against Housing Discrimination

Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley's Office has recently issued news releases in connection with its efforts targeting housing discrimination:

• AG Coakley Obtains Consent Judgment Against Cambridge Realty Company in Housing Discrimination Case: Resolved claims that company discriminated against a disabled Cambridge resident by refusing to rent her an apartment because it did not want to accept the lease requirements of the state-assisted housing program. The consent judgment permanently prohibits Oxford Street Realty, Inc. and its President, Jeffrey Indeck, from discriminating against tenants who have federal or state housing subsidies and requires defendants to pay the tenant $35,000 in damages.

• AG Coakley Obtains Consent Judgment Against Pittsfield Property Owner in Housing Discrimination Case: Resolves claims that Wahconah Grove Realty Trust and its property manager, Douglas Malins, violated state antidiscrimination laws by discriminating against a tenant on the basis of race. The defendants have agreed to pay $10,000 to the tenant as part of the settlement of the case. The complaint alleged that Malins prohibited a tenant’s grandson, who is biracial, from visiting her apartment and that he interfered with the tenant’s right to have African-American guests at her apartment.

• AG Coakley Obtains Consent Judgment in Sexual Harassment Case Against Property Owner and Management Company: Resolves claims against the management company and property owner of a 250-unit apartment complex in Cambridge involving allegations of unlawful discrimination against a tenant and her daughter by allowing an employee to sexually harass them.