FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                          CR
MONDAY, APRIL 22, 1996                             (202) 616-2765
                                               TDD (202) 514-1888


       JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SUES AKRON-AREA APARTMENT COMPLEX
       FOR ALLEGEDLY REFUSING TO RENT TO AFRICAN AMERICANS


     WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The owners and managers of an Ohio
apartment complex that allegedly refused to rent to African
Americans, as well as families with children, was sued today by the
Justice Department.  
     The suit is the 32nd stemming from a nationwide Justice
Department testing program to detect discrimination.  It is the
second such case filed in the Akron area.
     Under the program, trained pairs of African American and white
testers 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.  To date, the program has yielded nearly $2 million in
damages and fines.
     "All Americans should have the chance to live where they
choose, regardless of the color of their skin,"  said Assistant
Attorney General for Civil Rights Deval L. Patrick.  "We are
lifting the veil on housing discrimination, no matter how well
hidden it may be."
     In today's complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court in
Cleveland, the Justice Department alleged that the owners, Fourth
Street Associates, and managers, Bob and Phyllis Rasmussen, of the
Sauter Place Apartments engaged in a pattern of discrimination
against African Americans.  It claimed that the 53-unit apartment
complex located in Cuyahoga Falls falsely told African American
testers that units were not available for rental, while telling
whites that units were available.  
     The complaint also alleged that the managers of Sauter Place
made statements which indicated a preference not to rent to
families with children.  
     The testing was conducted in conjunction with Fair Housing
Advocates Association (FHAA), a local fair housing agency.  
     "We are pleased whenever partnerships between the Justice
Department and local fair housing groups can be forged," said Emily
M. Sweeney, U.S. Attorney in Cleveland.  "This case could not have
been possible without the cooperation of FHAA."
     Patrick noted that with today's case, the testing program has
produced 32 suits in eight states, including Ohio, Michigan,
California, South Dakota, Indiana, Missouri and Florida.  Currently
the Justice Department is conducting testing in about a dozen
cities.
     Today's suit seeks a court order preventing Sauter Place from
engaging in further discriminatory practices and requiring the
defendants to pay monetary damages to any identified victims of
discrimination.  Under the Fair Housing Act, a court may also
require each defendant to pay a civil penalty of up to $50,000 for
the first violation and $100,000 for a subsequent violation.
     In 1993, the Justice Department relied on its testing program
when it sued the Park Lane Manor condominium in Akron for refusing
to rent to African Americans.  One year later, Park Lane agreed to
pay $150,000 in damages to victims and $25,000 in civil penalties.
     Individuals who believe that they may have been the victims of
housing discrimination at Sauter Place Apartments should call the
U.S. Attorney's Office at (216) 622-3600, the Housing Section of
the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department at (202) 514-
4713, or the Fair Housing Advocates Association at (216) 253-2450.
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