Landlord Who Discriminated Against Tenant Fined $75,000

October 15, 2015

LVT Number: #26535

Tenant complained that landlord discriminated against her based on age and disability, causing her mental anguish. The New York State Division of Human Rights (DHR) ruled for tenant and fined landlord $75,000. Landlord filed an Article 78 appeal, claiming that DHR’s decision was unreasonable. The court ruled against landlord. There was substantial evidence that landlord created a hostile housing environment. Landlord also failed to show good cause for his failure to appear at a DHR hearing.

Tenant complained that landlord discriminated against her based on age and disability, causing her mental anguish. The New York State Division of Human Rights (DHR) ruled for tenant and fined landlord $75,000. Landlord filed an Article 78 appeal, claiming that DHR’s decision was unreasonable. The court ruled against landlord. There was substantial evidence that landlord created a hostile housing environment. Landlord also failed to show good cause for his failure to appear at a DHR hearing. The DHCR properly awarded tenant compensatory damages for mental anguish in the amount of $10,000, and another $10,000 in punitive damages. DHR also properly directed landlord to pay $55,000 in fines and penalties to the State of New York.

 

 

 
Jacobs v. New York State Division of Human Rights: 2015 NY Slip Op 06968, 2015 WL 5684680 (App. Div. 1 Dept.; 9/29/15; Friedman, JP, Andrias, Saxe, Gische, Kapnick, JJ)

Topics

More like this