An Indian-origin landlord in Pennsylvania, Venkatchalam Mani, is facing a federal lawsuit after the US Department of Justice accused him of sexually harassing a female tenant and retaliating against her when she rejected his alleged advances.
The lawsuit was filed on Wednesday in the US District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.
According to the complaint, Mani, who owns a rental property in the State College borough, repeatedly made unwelcome sexual advances towards the tenant, including alleged unwanted touching.
The Justice Department further alleged that after the woman rejected his advances, Mani ignored her repeated requests for essential repairs, including fixing a broken furnace during winter.
The furnace later caught fire, forcing the woman and her children to leave the property.
“The landlord failed to fix a tenant’s furnace despite freezing temperatures because the female tenant refused his sexual advances, forcing her family to move out with no other place to live,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.
“This conduct is illegal. The Justice Department will uphold the rights of female tenants to housing without the threat of sexual harassment by a landlord,” she added.
The lawsuit seeks monetary compensation for the tenant and her children. It also asks the court to prohibit Mani from engaging in similar discriminatory conduct in the future.
US Attorney Brian D. Miller for the Middle District of Pennsylvania said such behaviour would not be tolerated.
“Attempts by landlords to exploit tenants for sexual favours, commit sexual assault or retaliate against them will never be tolerated in the Middle District of Pennsylvania,” Miller said.
The case began after the tenant filed a complaint with the US Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Following an investigation, HUD concluded that Mani had violated the Fair Housing Act and issued a charge of discrimination.
After the tenant chose to have the matter heard in federal court, HUD referred the case to the Department of Justice, which subsequently filed the lawsuit.
The Justice Department alleges that Mani’s actions amounted to unlawful sexual harassment and retaliation under the Fair Housing Act. It is seeking damages for the affected family and an injunction to prevent future violations.
