Amie Kelly, Housing Discrimination, South Dakota 2015
Rapid City, SD - In a shocking case of housing discrimination, local landlord Amie Kelly has been revealed to have engaged in discriminatory practices against Jennifer Seiler in 2015. The U.S. Attorney's Office has announced that Kelly has reached a settlement agreement to resolve the lawsuit, which alleged discrimination on the basis of sex and familial status in violation of the Fair Housing Act.
The lawsuit arose from a complaint filed with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in 2015. After the parties failed to resolve allegations administratively, the matter was brought to federal court, where the United States alleged that Kelly violated the Fair Housing Act when she discriminated against Seiler on the basis of sex and familial status.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Kelly sent Seiler a copy of a lease agreement that contained a provision stating that no minor under the age of 18 was to be allowed on the premises without adult supervision. The U.S. Attorney's Office further alleged that Kelly denied Seiler the opportunity to rent a housing unit because she had a child, stating that she had always rented to bachelors in the past.
The settlement, which does not constitute an admission of liability, requires Kelly to pay Seiler $3,000 in monetary damages. As part of the agreement, Kelly will also implement nondiscrimination policies and procedures, participate in fair housing training, refrain from engaging in any prohibited conduct in the future, and make periodic reports to the U.S. Attorney's Office regarding compliance.
The federal Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing on the basis of disability, race, color, religion, national origin, sex, and familial status. Individuals who believe they may have been victims of housing discrimination can contact the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of South Dakota at (605) 330-4400 or the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development at 1-800-669-9777.
The case against Kelly highlights the importance of fair housing laws and the need for landlords to comply with these laws. The U.S. Attorney's Office will continue to investigate and prosecute cases of housing discrimination to ensure that all individuals have equal access to housing opportunities.
Mandatory Facts:
- Defendant/Respondent: Amie Kelly
- Criminal Charges: Housing Discrimination
- City and State: Rapid City, South Dakota
- Exact Date: July 20, 2015
- Sentence or Outcome: $3,000 settlement, nondiscrimination policies and procedures, fair housing training, and periodic reports
- Dollar Amounts: $3,000
Key Facts
- State: South Dakota
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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