U.S. Department
of Justice
United States v. Salazar (E.D. Cal.)
On October 28, 2024 the court entered a default judgment in United States v. Salazar et al. (E.D. Cal.). The complaint, which was filed on August 28, 2023, alleged that the defendants violated the Fair Housing Act by discriminating and retaliating against the tenant of a single-family home in Bakersfield, California. Specifically, the complaint alleges that the maintenance worker of the property, Salazar Jr., repeatedly asked the tenant to engage in sexual acts with him, persistently commented on her appearance, touched her body without her consent and took digital photographs of framed print pictures in her home of her and her daughter. The tenant reported the harassing behavior to the property manager, Salazar Sr., who is also the maintenance worker’s father. After she reported the harassment and threatened to contact a lawyer or the police if it continued, the maintenance worker and manager refused to fix a leaking gas line in her dwelling, causing her to go without heat for one month and consequently forcing her to move out. The complaint also alleges that the property owner, Covarrubias, is vicariously liable for the maintenance worker’s and manager’s conduct. The court awarded the tenant $45,000 dollars in compensatory and punitive damages and awarded injunctive relief that prohibits the sexual harasser from contacting the tenant or engaging in property management for ten years. The injunction requires all Defendants to attend fair housing training and requires the property owner to adopt a written policy against sexual harassment. The case was referred to the Division after the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) received a complaint, conducted an investigation, and issued a charge of discrimination.