U.S. Department
of Justice
United States v. Chad David Ables, d/b/a Pops Cove (W.D. Tenn.)
On December 12, 2022, the court entered judgment on a December 9, 2022 jury verdict in United States v. Chad David Ables, d/b/a Pops Cove (W.D. Tenn.). The United States’ amended complaint, filed on April 15, 2019, alleged that the Defendant, Chad David Ables, sexually harassed female tenants of residential rental properties that he owned and managed, in violation of the Fair Housing Act. After a four-day trial, the jury returned a verdict in favor of the United States, finding that from at least 2013 to 2020 the Defendant had engaged in a pattern or practice of sexual harassment of female tenants and had denied rights protected by the FHA to a group of such persons. The jury awarded compensatory and punitive damages totaling $70,500 to six former female tenants of the Defendant.
On May 8, 2023, the court awarded additional injunctive relief to the United States and ordered the Defendant to pay a civil penalty of $25,000. Among other things, the court issued a permanent injunction barring the Defendant from managing residential rental properties, from entering onto the premises of any residential rental properties he continues to own, and from having any contact or communication with current or prospective tenants. The order requires the Defendant to hire an independent property management company to manage any rental properties he continues to own.
The case was referred to the Division after the Department of Housing and Urban Development received a complaint from two former female tenants of the Defendant, conducted an investigation, and issued a charge of discrimination.
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