US Department of Justice Files Federal Lawsuit Against Pennsylvania Landlord for Sexual Harassment

An Indian-origin landlord in Pennsylvania, Venkatchalam Mani, is facing a federal lawsuit after the US Department of Justice accused him of sexually harassing a female tenant and retaliating against her when she rejected his alleged advances.

The federal lawsuit filed on Wednesday in the US District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, alleges that Venkatchalam Mani owner of a rental property in the State College borough, made repeated unwelcome sexual advances toward a female tenant, including unwanted sexual touching.

According to the complaint, after the tenant rejected his advances, Mani allegedly ignored her repeated requests for maintenance, including repairing a broken furnace during the winter. The furnace later caught fire, forcing the woman and her family to leave the property.

"The landlord failed to fix a tenant's furnace despite freezing temperatures because the female tenant refused his sexual advances, forcing her family to move out with no other place to live," Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division said.

"This conduct is illegal. The Justice Department will uphold the rights of female tenants to housing without the threat of sexual harassment by a landlord," Dhillon added.

The lawsuit seeks monetary compensation for the tenant and her children, along with a court order prohibiting Mani from engaging in similar discriminatory conduct in the future.

US Attorney Brian D Miller for the Middle District of Pennsylvania said such behaviour would not be tolerated.

"Attempts to exploit tenants for sexual favours, sexual assault and retaliation by landlords will never be tolerated in the Middle District of Pennsylvania," Miller added.

The case began after the tenant filed a complaint with the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), PTI reported.

Following an investigation, HUD concluded that Mani had violated the Fair Housing Act and issued a charge of discrimination.

After the tenant opted to have the matter heard in federal court, HUD referred the case to the Department of Justice, which subsequently filed the lawsuit.

The Justice Department alleges that Mani's actions amounted to unlawful sexual harassment and retaliation under the Fair Housing Act and is seeking damages as well as an injunction to prevent future violations.