(WYMT) – A Somerset landlord agreed to pay $150,000 to resolve a federal lawsuit alleging he sexually harassed female tenants for more than a decade.
The Justice Department announced the settlement Monday with Danny Bell, the owner and manager of residential rental properties in Somerset.
The lawsuit, originally filed in April 2023 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, accused Bell of violating the Fair Housing Act.
The DOJ alleged Bell offered to forgive rent in exchange for sexual contact, subjected tenants to unwelcome sexual touching, made unwanted advances, entered female tenants’ homes without notice or permission, and threatened eviction if tenants refused his demands.
“Tenants should not be forced to choose between safety and keeping a roof over their heads,” said Harmeet K. Dhillon, Assistant Attorney General of the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division.
Under the terms of the proposed consent order, which still requires court approval, Bell must pay:
- $140,000 in damages to the affected tenants
- $10,000 as a civil penalty to the United States
The agreement also outlines the sale of Bell’s current residential rental properties and permanently bars him from managing residential rental properties in the future. Additionally, Bell is prohibited from contacting any of the victims and must implement training and policies to prevent future discrimination.