U.S. Department
of Justice
United States v. Pfeiffer (D. Minn.)
On October 25, 2021, the Court entered a consent decree in United States v. Pfeiffer (D. Minn.). The complaint, which was filed on September 16, 2020, alleged that, from at least 2014 through at least 2019, defendants violated the Fair Housing Act by engaging in a pattern or practice of sexually harassing female tenants at properties they own and operate in and around Minneapolis, Minnesota. The consent decree requires defendants to pay $750,000 in monetary compensation, including $736,000 to 23 aggrieved persons, and a $14,000 civil penalty to the United States. It also requires the engagement of an independent property manager and permanently enjoins Reese Pfeiffer from managing rental properties in the future. After learning that two of the defendants were interfering with the independent management of the properties, the Justice Department negotiated and filed a stipulated contempt order finding that the defendants violated the consent decree, including some additional restrictions and safeguards, and setting daily fines for future violations. The Court entered the contempt order on August 22, 2023. When the Justice Department learned that two of the defendants continued to violate the consent decree, it filed a motion for civil contempt and imposition of a contempt fine. On May 2, 2024, the Court entered an Order finding the two defendants in civil contempt and ordering the defendants to pay the United States a civil contempt fine of $35,600.
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