DOJ suit alleges Kentucky landlord subjected female tenants to sexual harassment

A Kentucky rental property owner is the subject of a Justice Department lawsuit alleging years of sexual harassment of female tenants.

“For decades, this landlord used his position of power to sexually harass vulnerable women who simply wanted roofs over their heads,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke, speaking about Joseph E. Johnson, the owner and operator of a number of rental properties in Lexington, Ky.

“Women should not live in fear when they pay their rent or seek repairs. The Justice Department will continue to vigorously enforce the Fair Housing Act’s prohibition on this conduct,” Clarke said.

The lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky alleges that, for decades, Johnson has offered housing-related benefits in exchange for sexual contact, made unwelcome sexual comments and advances to female tenants, subjected female tenants to unwelcome touching and groping, taken adverse housing-related actions against female tenants who refused his sexual advances and failed to act when made aware of similar harassing behavior by one or more of his employees.

The lawsuit, which is the result of a joint investigative effort of the Justice Department with the Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General, seeks monetary damages to compensate people harmed by the alleged harassment, a civil penalty against the defendant to vindicate the public interest and a court order barring future discrimination.

“It is unacceptable for landlords to threaten or commit sexual harassment or abuse against tenants,” said HUD Inspector General Rae Oliver Davis. “The defendant allegedly preyed upon vulnerable tenants and retaliated against them when they spurned his sexual advances. My office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to hold housing providers accountable for this type of horrible conduct.”