Real Estate Central

WASHINGTON, May 20 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The Justice Department
today sued Reggie and Kim Collier, of Haughton, La., for violating the Fair
Housing Act when they interfered with the sale of a home because of the
perceived race of the buyers.

The suit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of
Louisiana, charges that the Colliers interfered with the sale of 4512 Camp
Joy Road, Camp Joy Marina, Haughton, La., in 2004, because they believed
the buyers were African-American. The suit alleges that Reggie Collier told
the sellers that if African Americans purchased their home, he would cut
off their water and sewer utilities. As a result of this alleged
interference, the buyers withdrew from their agreement to purchase the
property.

“The Fair Housing Act ensures that persons have the right to purchase a
home free of racial discrimination,” said Grace Chung Becker, Acting
Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department’s Civil Rights
Division.

This lawsuit arose as a result of a complaint filed with the U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) by the couple who
attempted to sell their home. After an investigation of the complaint, HUD
issued a charge of discrimination, and the complainants elected to have the
case heard in federal court.

The suit seeks a court order prohibiting future discrimination by the
Colliers, requiring the Colliers to pay monetary damages to the
complainants, and pay a civil penalty. The suit also alleges that the
Colliers’ conduct constituted a pattern or practice of discrimination, or
the denial of rights to a group of persons that raises an issue of general
public importance, and seeks monetary damages for any other persons harmed
by the Colliers’ actions.

The federal Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing based
on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability and familial
status. Since Jan. 1, 2001, the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division
has filed 247 cases to enforce the Fair Housing Act, 69 of which have
alleged discrimination based on race. More information about the Civil
Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available at
http://www.usdoj.gov/crt. Individuals who believe that they may have been
victims of housing discrimination can call the Housing Discrimination Tip
Line at 1-800-896-7743, email the Justice Department at
fairhousing@usdoj.gov, or contact the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development at 1-800-669-9777.



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Source: Real Estate Newswire