Joseph E. Johnson, Sexual Harassment, Kentucky 2024

Lexington Landlord Must Pay $510,000 After Sexual Harassment Allegations

The Justice Department announced today that Joseph E. Johnson, the owner and manager of residential rental properties in Lexington, Kentucky, agreed to pay $510,000 to resolve a lawsuit alleging that he sexually harassed female tenants in violation of the Fair Housing Act.

According to the lawsuit, Johnson sexually harassed female tenants for decades, including in their homes and at the rental office. The suit alleges that Johnson offered to forgive rent in exchange for sexual contact, demanded sexual contact from his tenants, subjected tenants to unwelcome sexual touching, made unwelcome sexual comments and sexual advances, let himself into female tenants' homes without notice or permission, and threatened to evict tenants who refused his demands. The complaint also alleges Johnson failed to stop his employees when they engaged in similar conduct.

The Justice Department's Civil Rights Division, in partnership with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Kentucky, filed the lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky in December 2024.

‘The Justice Department will not tolerate violations of our federal fair housing laws, including landlords' unwelcome sexual advances and requests for sexual favors,' said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division. ‘This settlement demonstrates our commitment to continuing to enforce these laws so tenants remain safe and secure in their homes.'

‘No one should have to choose between homelessness and sexual harassment in the place where they should feel safest,' said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Parman for the Eastern District of Kentucky. ‘Our office is committed to holding accountable anyone who preys on and harasses vulnerable tenants in Eastern Kentucky, and this settlement sends a clear message that sex discrimination in housing will not be tolerated.'

Under the terms of the consent order, Johnson must pay $500,000 to tenants who were harmed by his harassment and a $10,000 civil penalty to the United States. The consent order permanently bars Johnson from managing residential rental properties and from contacting tenants harmed by his harassment. It also mandates training and the adoption of policies and procedures to prevent future discrimination in his rental properties.

The settlement is part of the Justice Department's Sexual Harassment in Housing Initiative, which seeks to address and raise awareness about sexual harassment by landlords, property managers, maintenance workers, loan officers, and other people who have control over housing. Since launching the initiative in October 2017, the department has filed 52 lawsuits alleging sexual harassment in housing and recovered over $19 million for victims of such harassment.

Victims of sexual harassment by landlords or property managers can call the Justice Department's Housing Discrimination Tip Line at 1-800-896-7743 or submit a report online. More information about the Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available at www.justice.gov/crt.

Defendant: Joseph E. Johnson

Criminal Charges: Sexual harassment of female tenants in violation of the Fair Housing Act

City and State: Lexington, Kentucky

Date: December 2024 (lawsuit filed)

Sentence or Outcome: Johnson agreed to pay $510,000 to resolve the lawsuit

Dollar Amounts: $510,000 (settlement amount), $500,000 (payment to victims), $10,000 (civil penalty)

Source: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-secures-510000-settlement-sexual-harassment-lawsuit-against-kentucky