Saturday, December 18, 2010

NYC Feds File Civil Suit Charging Rockland County Landlord Of 96-Unit Complex With Discriminatory Practices Targeting African-Americans

From the Office of the U.S. Attorney (NYC/Manhattan):
  • PREET BHARARA, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced [] that the United States has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit under the Fair Housing Act against BURGUNDY GARDENS, LLC, for discriminating against African-Americans seeking to rent apartments at Burgundy Gardens Apartments, located in Valley Cottage, Rockland County, New York.

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  • Burgundy Gardens Apartments is a residential complex consisting of approximately 96 rental apartment units. [...] Specifically, the United States alleges that Burgundy Gardens has engaged in racially discriminatory housing practices, including failing to inform African-American prospective tenants about available apartments, or telling African-Americans that certain apartments are not available, while telling non-African-American persons that such apartments were in fact available.

  • In addition, the Complaint alleges that Burgundy Gardens told African-American prospective tenants that the prices for rental apartments were higher than the prices quoted to non African-American persons. The United States further alleges that Burgundy Gardens failed to show African-American prospective tenants available apartments, while at the same time showing similarly situated non-African-American persons available apartments.

For the U.S. Attorney press release, see Manhattan U.S. Attorney Files Civil Rights Suit Against Rockland County Landlord For Discrimination Against African-American Prospective Tenants.