Minnesota Landlord Receives $400,000 Penalty for Sexual Harassment Charges

A landlord in Hastings, Minnesota, has learned the hard way to leave his female tenants alone. The Justice Department has announced that the landlord, Ronald Bathrick, has agreed to pay $400,000 to settle claims that were brought against him by his female tenants alleging sexual harassment.

Ronald Bathrick was that owner and manager of properties in both Hastings and St. Paul. It was alleged that he subjected his female tenants to sever and unasked for sexual harassment which included unwanted sexual advances and sexual contact, only allowing a woman to rent from him if they granted him sexual favors and also it is alleged that he entered female tenants' apartment without having permission or giving them the advance notice required by law. These allegations are all in violation of the federal fair housing laws.

This agreement is not final until it is approved by the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, but if and when it is, the defendant will pay $360,000 to the alleged victims as well as pay a $40,000 civil penalty to the United States. Also, as part of the agreement he was required to and has agreed to hire an independent management organization to handle all the day to day operations of his rental properties.

The federal Fair Housing Act prohibits any and all discrimination in housing based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability and familial status.

Operation Home Sweet Home was established in February 2006, by the Department of Justice. It is an initiative for the purpose of exposing and eliminating all housing discrimination in America. The inspiration and driving force behind this initiative was the plight of the displaced victims of Hurricane Katrina who were suddenly forced into a position of homelessness and had to find new housing in a market where little or none existed. And when they did find housing, they were in many instances the victims of discrimination by property owners. Operation Home Sweet Home was created to not only help those displaced by Hurricane Katrina. Its purpose is to target all housing discrimination in all parts of the country.