U.S. Department
of Justice
United States v. Village Realty of Staten Island Ltd. (E.D.N.Y.)
On April 5, 2021, the court entered a consent decree resolving United States v. Village Realty of Staten Island Ltd. (E.D.N.Y.). The complaint, filed on September 30, 2020, alleged that the defendants violated the Fair Housing Act (FHA) on the basis of race when Defendant Denis Donovan, a sales and rental agent at Village Realty, treated African-Americans who inquired about available rental units differently and less favorably than similarly-situated white persons. The complaint also alleged that Defendant Village Realty is vicariously liable for Donovan’s discriminatory conduct. The consent decree requires the defendants to adopt nondiscriminatory standards and procedures, undergo fair housing training, contribute $15,000 to a victim fund, and pay a civil penalty. The complaint was based on testing evidence developed by the Section’s Fair Housing Testing Program.
- None