Department of Justice Seal Department of Justice
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MONDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2001
WWW.USDOJ.GOV
CRT
(202) 616-2777
TDD (202) 514-1888

ILLINOIS APARTMENT OWNER SETTLES
HOUSING DISCRIMINATION LAWSUIT


WASHINGTON, D.C. - - The Justice Department announced today that the owner of the Hillgate Apartments in East Moline, Illinois has agreed to pay $35,000 to resolve a federal housing discrimination lawsuit alleging that the owner refused to rent apartments to individuals with disabilities.

The September 2000 complaint, filed in the United States District Court for Central Illinois, alleged that the Strieter Corporation, owners of the Hillgate Apartments in East Moline, Illinois, and John and Gloria Strieter, the apartment managers, violated the Fair Housing Act when they refused to rent an apartment to Randy Upton and his wife because he used a wheelchair. The complaint also alleged that the apartment owner told the Uptons that the apartment complex had a "no wheelchairs" policy.

Under the agreement, which still must be approved by Judge Michael Mihm for the U.S. District Court for Central Illinois, the defendants will pay $35,000 to the Uptons. The defendants also agree to rent their apartments to persons who use wheelchairs and to allow tenants to modify their apartments to make them more accessible to persons with disabilities. Federal law requires older apartments, such as Hillgate Apartments, to permit tenants to make reasonable modifications to make their apartments more accessible. New multi-family housing built after March 13, 1991 must be accessible when built.

"Apartment owners and managers have to understand that the choice to rent or not to rent belongs to the consumer," said Ralph F. Boyd, Jr., Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights. "Landlords who discourage people from renting or applying because of their disabilities are violating the law."

The agreement also requires the defendants to:

This case was based on evidence provided by the Uptons and a complaint that they filed with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) alleging that the defendants violated the Fair Housing Act when they refused to rent an apartment to the Uptons. HUD investigated the matter and later referred it to the Justice Department.

Individuals who believe that they have been victims of housing discrimination should contact the Department of Housing and Urban Development at (800) 669-9777 or the United States Department of Justice at (800) 896-7743. Additional information is available on HUD's website at www.hud.gov and the Justice Department website at www.usdoj.gov/crt/housing.

###

01-547