Iraj Shambayati, Sexual Harassment, Georgia 2023

Savannah Landlord to Pay $600,000 After Sex Harassment Allegations

A local landlord has agreed to pay a significant sum to settle allegations of sex harassment against female tenants. Iraj Shambayati, who owns and manages over 45 properties in and around Savannah, Georgia, will pay $600,000 to resolve the claims.

The allegations against Shambayati date back over 15 years, with female tenants accusing him of making repeated and unwelcome sexual comments and advances, inappropriately touching their bodies without permission, and entering their homes without permission or knowledge. The tenants also alleged that Shambayati would take retaliatory actions against those who rejected his advances or complained about the harassment.

Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke said, 'No female tenant should have to endure sexual harassment and abuse in the sanctity of her own home.' The Justice Department's Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Georgia handled the case.

Shambayati and two other defendants, 1511 Rosewood LLC and IDHD Properties LLC, will pay $590,000 in monetary damages to the victims and a civil penalty to the federal government. The order requires the defendants to vacate any retaliatory eviction judgments obtained against the tenants and to take steps to correct the tenants' credit histories.

The defendants are also prohibited from managing residential rental properties in the future and must retain an independent property manager for the properties. The lawsuit was filed in August 2023.

Individuals who believe they may have been victims of sexual harassment at rental dwellings owned or managed by Shambayati should contact the Justice Department at Shambayati.Info@usdoj.gov or fairhousing@usdoj.gov or leave a message at 1-833-591-0291.

The Justice Department's Sexual Harassment in Housing Initiative is led by the Civil Rights Division, in coordination with U.S. Attorneys' Offices across the country. Since launching the initiative in October 2017, the department has filed 40 lawsuits alleging sexual harassment in housing and recovered nearly $12 million for victims of such harassment.

The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing based on sex, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, and familial status. More information about the Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available at www.justice.gov/crt.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/justice-department-secures-agreement-resolve-sexual-harassment-lawsuit-against-savannah