Justice Department settles lawsuit alleging Edmonds landlords discriminated against families

The U.S. Department of Justice announced Wednesday that it has reached a settlement with the owners and manager of three Edmonds apartment buildings following allegations that they violated the Fair Housing Act by refusing to rent their apartments to families with children.

“The Fair Housing Act prohibits apartment owners and managers from denying housing to families because they have children,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General John M. Gore of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “We will continue to vigorously enforce the Fair Housing Act’s prohibition of discrimination against families with children.”

The three apartment buildings involved in the settlement are located at 201 5th Ave. N., 621 5th Ave. S., and 401 Pine Street in Edmonds. They are owned and managed by defendants Debbie A. Appleby, Apple One, LLC, Apple Two, LLC, and Apple Three, LLC, of Stanwood, Wash. Under the settlement, the defendants will pay a total monetary settlement of $95,000, comprised of:

– $35,000 in damages to a family that they turned away because the family had a small child;

– $35,000 that will be used to compensate other families that were harmed by defendants’ practices; and

– $25,000 as a civil penalty to the United States;

The defendants have also agreed to adopt non-discriminatory policies and practices that ensure compliance with Fair Housing Act; and submit to record keeping and monitoring requirements for the three-year period of the settlement agreement.

“Equal access to housing is essential for all Americans, including families with young children,” said U.S. Attorney Annette L. Hayes of the Western District of Washington. “Particularly in our tight housing market, landlords must follow the law and make units available without discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability or familial status.”

Wednesday’s settlement resolves a complaint filed by the department in March 2017 that alleged that in March 2014, defendant Appleby told a woman seeking an apartment for herself, her husband and their 1-year-old child that the apartment buildings were “adult only.”  The complaint also alleged that defendants advertised their apartments as being in “adult buildings.” The family filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which conducted an investigation, issued a charge of discrimination against the defendants, and referred the case to the Justice Department

Any individuals who believe they were discriminated against by the defendants because they have children should contact the Civil Rights Division at 1-800-896-7743, Option 96.

 

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