United States v. Kormanik (W.D. Pa.)

On October 3, 2016, the  ourt entered a consent order in United States v. Kormanik (W.D. Pa.). The pattern or practice complaint, which was filed on September 28, 2016, alleges that Robert Kormanik, the rental manager for Kinamrok Apartments, and Kinamrok Inc., the corporate entity that owns the complex, discriminated against families with children by prohibiting them from renting one- and two-bedroom units in violation of the Fair Housing Act. The department’s testing revealed that Kormanik told testers children were not allowed in one-bedroom units. He also refused to inform testers about available two-bedroom units until the testers assured him that no children would reside there. Under the terms of the consent order Kormanik and Kinamrok will establish a settlement fund of $20,000 to compensate victims of their alleged discriminatory practices. The defendants will also pay a $10,000 civil penalty to the United States. The consent order prohibits the defendants from engaging in further acts of discrimination and requires them to implement a non-discrimination policy and submit reports to the United States. Kormanik and any other employee involved in the management of, or the rental of units at, Kinamrok Apartments must also receive training on the Fair Housing Act. The allegations were based on evidence generated by the department’s Fair Housing Testing Unit.