U.S. Department
of Justice
United States v. Nedzad Ukejnovic (E.D. Mo.)
On May 19, 2023, the court entered a consent order in United States v. Nedzad Ukejnovic (E.D. Mo.). The “election” complaint, which was filed on September 22, 2022, alleged that Nedzad Ukejnovic, the owner and manager of residential rental properties in Saint Louis, Missouri, discriminated on the basis of sex, in violation of the Fair Housing Act, by sexually harassing a female tenant in 2018. The complaint also alleged that Ukejnovic’s conduct frustrated the mission of the Metropolitan St. Louis Equal Housing and Opportunity Council (EHOC), a private, not-for-profit organization in Saint Louis, and caused EHOC to divert resources. EHOC investigated the tenant’s allegations, helped her file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and created an education and action plan for the affected community. The United States’ complaint also included a “group of persons” claim under the Fair Housing Act, based on additional victims that were identified during the Department’s investigation. The case was referred to the Division after HUD received complaints, conducted an investigation, and issued a charge of discrimination. The consent order requires the defendant to pay $85,000 to compensate individuals harmed by the harassment and $20,000 to compensate the Metropolitan St. Louis Equal Housing Opportunity Council for resources it expended responding to the reported harassment. The defendant is also required to pay a $5,000 civil penalty to the United States. In addition, the consent order requires the defendant to retain an independent property manager to manage his rental properties, obtain fair housing training and implement non-discrimination policies and complaint procedures to prevent sexual harassment at his properties in the future.
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