U.S. Department
of Justice
United States v. Webb (E.D. Mo.)
On March 19, 2018, the United States entered into a settlement agreement resolving United States v. Webb (E.D. Mo.), a Fair Housing Act pattern or practice/election referral. The complaint, filed August 31, 2016, alleged that Hezekiah and Jameseva Webb violated the Fair Housing Act on the basis of sex by sexually harassing HUD complainant when Hezekiah Webb made unwanted sexual advances and sexually explicit comments, propositioned the complainant for sex in exchange for reduced rent, attempted to touch her breast, and ultimately evicted her after she rebuffed his sexual advances. The complaint also included a pattern or practice claim based on fourteen other tenants that Hezekiah Webb sexually harassed in similar fashion from the 1990s to the present. Under the settlement, Hezekiah and Jameseva Webb will pay a total of $600,000 in monetary damages to fifteen former and prospective tenants who were subjected to sexual harassment, as well as a $25,000 civil penalty to the United States. The settlement also bars Hezekiah and Jameseva Webb from continuing to serve as property managers. The case was referred to the Division after the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) received a complaint, conducted an investigation, and issued a charge of discrimination.
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