Justice Department Sues Owner and Manager of Lakewood, N.J. Apartment Complex for Discrimination Against Non-Jewish Black and Hispanic Tenants

To: National Desk

Contact: U.S. Department of Justice, 202-514-2007,
202-514-1888 (TDD)

WASHINGTON, Sept. 29 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The Justice
Department filed a lawsuit today against Triple H.
Realty LLC and a current and former employee of the
corporation, alleging that they discriminated against
non-Jewish black and Hispanic tenants at the Cottage
Manor Apartments in Lakewood, N.J.

The complaint, filed in federal district court in
Newark, alleges that the defendants marketed the
complex to Orthodox Jews in the local area beginning
in 2002 by offering lower rents than current tenants
paid for comparable apartments. Non-Jewish black and
Hispanic residents were allegedly pressured to move
out of buildings that management reserved for incoming
Jewish tenants and that were better maintained than
other buildings in the complex. The complaint also
alleges that management provided Jewish residents more
favorable living conditions, such as a fenced,
landscaped yard.

"It is inexcusable and illegal to deny equal access to
housing based on one's race or ethnicity," said Wan J.
Kim, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights
Division. "The Department of Justice will continue to
vigorously protect the equal housing rights of all
Americans."

The suit seeks monetary damages to compensate victims,
civil penalties, and a court order barring future
discrimination.

The federal Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination
in housing on the basis of race, color, sex, familial
status, national origin and disability. Since Jan. 1,
2001, the Justice Departments' Civil Rights Division
has filed 210 cases to enforce the Fair Housing Act.
For more information about the Civil Rights Division
and the laws it enforces, visit
http://www.usdoj.gov/crt.

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/© 2006 U.S. Newswire 202-347-2770/