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. # # # 96-180