FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CR

TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 1995 (202) 616-2765

TDD (202) 514-1888

JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SUES SUBURBAN DETROIT APARTMENT COMPLEX FOR

REFUSING TO RENT TO AFRICAN AMERICANS

Congress May Bar Similar Anti-discrimination Suits

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Justice Department today sued the

owners and manager of a suburban Detroit apartment complex for
allegedly refusing to rent units to African Americans. The case
stems from a nationwide testing program that already has produced
27 suits, including seven in the Detroit area alone.
Under the program, trained pairs of black and white testers
with similar credentials posing as prospective tenants inquire
about available units. By comparing the experiences of the
testers, investigators are able to determine whether minorities are
treated less favorably than whites.
Today's complaint, filed in U.S. District Court in Detroit,
accuses the 252-unit Allen Park complex of engaging in a pattern of
discrimination against African Americans and families with children
in violation of the federal Fair Housing Act. It alleged that the
owners and manager of the Park Woods Apartment falsely informed
black applicants that no apartments were available while telling
whites that they were. The complaint also alleged that the complex
discriminated against families with children -- which has been
illegal since 1989.
Congress, though, may bar the Justice Department from bringing
such suits in the future. Under proposed legislation, being
considered today in the House Committee on Banking and Financial
Services, the Department would be unable to challenge patterns of
discrimination by housing providers and lending institutions.
"It is unthinkable that the Justice Department would no longer
be able to challenge patterns of discrimination," said Attorney
General Janet Reno. "This legislation would threaten anti-discrimination measures supported by the past seven Presidents."
"We must continue to vigorously fight racial discrimination in
housing which too often goes undetected," said Assistant Attorney
General for Civil Rights Deval L. Patrick. "Today's actions should
warn all housing providers that housing discrimination is a
violation of federal law."
The Justice Department conducted its testing in conjunction
with the Fair Housing Center of Metropolitan Detroit. Of the six
suits previously filed in the Detroit area, four were settled in
1993 and two were settled in 1994, resulting in more than $1
million in civil penalties and damages for victims.
"To deny applicants an apartment because of their race or
because they have children is to deny that person a share of the
American Dream" said U.S. Attorney Saul A. Green in Detroit. "We
will vigorously prosecute such discrimination."
The complaint seeks an order preventing the complex from
engaging in further discriminatory practices and requiring the
defendants to pay damages to any individuals identified as victims
of the discrimination. Under the Fair Housing Act, a court may
also require each defendant to pay a civil penalty up to $50,000
for the first violation and $100,000 for each subsequent violation.
Individuals who believe they may have been the victims of
housing discrimination at Park Woods Apartments should call the
Housing Section of the Civil Rights Division at the Justice
Department at 202-514-4713, the U.S. Attorney's Office at 313-226-9792, or the Fair Housing Center of Metropolitan Detroit at 313-
housing discrimination at other locations should call the
Department of Housing and Urban Development at 1-800-927-9275.
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