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Mohan Prashad, who is a landlord in Worcester, and his employee David Besaw agreed to resolve allegations that they violated the Fair Housing Act by sexually harassing female tenants.
Acting US Attorney Nathaniel Mendell said that the settlement also resolves claims against Lanaton LLC and Savton LLC, which, along with Prashad, owned the properties where the harassment occurred.
The lawsuit alleged that beginning in 2009, Prashad subjected female tenants to harassment including unwelcome sexual advances and comments, making unscheduled and frequent visits to certain tenant units without legitimate property management reasons for the visits, and taking adverse actions against tenants who resisted his sexual overtures.
According to the complaint, Besaw also sexually harassed and assaulted tenants and that Prashad, after receiving notice of Besaw’s harassment, retaliated against one tenant by filing an eviction action against her and failing to prevent any further harassment.
“The sexual harassment of tenants is an appalling abuse of economic and social power that warrants serious consequences,” Mendell said. “Everyone has a right to feel safe and secure in their home, and the Fair Housing Act gives us the tools to enforce that for tenants.
“My office will continue to enforce these important civil rights laws to protect vulnerable individuals, hold violators accountable, and secure justice for victims.”
Under the agreement, which must be approved by the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts, Prashad and Beast must pay anyone harmed by the harassment $65,000 and a $10,000 civil penalty to the United States.
“Sexually harassing tenants in their homes and retaliating against those who have complained about experiencing harassment are egregious forms of sex discrimination and violate the Fair Housing Act,” Assistant AG Kristen Clarke for the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division stated.
“The Justice Department is committed to ensuring that no individual is subjected to housing discrimination or retaliatory eviction because of their sex.”
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