Justice Department Sues Los Angeles Landlord For Engaging In Discrimination

usdoj.gov, Dec 29, 2006

The Justice Department announced today that it has filed a lawsuit against Donald T. Sterling, Rochelle Sterling, the Sterling Family Trust, and the Korean Land Company L.L.C. (the Sterling Defendants) alleging housing discrimination on the basis of race, national origin, and family status.

The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California in Los Angeles, alleges that the Sterling Defendants refused to rent to non-Korean prospective tenants, misrepresented the availability of apartment units to non-Korean prospective tenants, and provided inferior treatment to non-Korean tenants in the Koreatown section of Los Angeles. The complaint also alleges that the Sterling Defendants refused to rent to African-American prospective tenants and misrepresented the availability of apartment units to African-American prospective tenants in the Beverly Hills section of Los Angeles.

“Aggressively enforcing the laws that protect the civil liberties of all Americans is a top priority of the Justice Department,” said Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales. “Through Operation Home Sweet Home and our continued enforcement efforts, we remain committed to protecting the rights of our nation's citizens to obtain housing without fear of discrimination.”

“Equal access to housing is key to obtaining the American dream,” said Wan J. Kim, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department is committed to investigating and prosecuting anyone who participates in such illegal and offensive discriminatory practices.” Read more at usdoj.gov