William Ranguette, Disability-Based Housing Discrimination, Wisconsin 2022

Waunakee, WI – In a shocking case of housing discrimination, a landlord and apartment complex owner in Waunakee, Wisconsin have been accused of discriminating against two residents based on their disabilities. The U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against Applewood of Cross Plains LLC (ACP) and William Ranguette, alleging that they denied the residents’ lease renewal due to their disabilities, demanded that they develop a ‘plan’ to deal with the daughter’s disability-related behavior, and pressured them to move.

According to the lawsuit, the defendants discriminated against the two residents, a mother and daughter living together, by failing to take prompt action to correct and end disability-related harassment by other tenants. The harassment included statements such as calling the daughter ‘mentally retarded’ and stating ‘You don’t belong here… you belong in an institution.’

Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Vanita Gupta stated, ‘Persons with disabilities, like all Americans, have the right to live in housing free of discrimination and harassment from both landlords and tenants.’

Under the terms of the proposed settlement, the defendants will pay the complainants $40,000 in damages and maintain non-discrimination housing policies. Although denying the allegations, defendants ACP and Ranguette have also agreed to advertise that they are equal opportunity housing providers and attend fair housing training.

‘No family should have to endure degrading insults and comments in the place they call home,’ said Gustavo Velasquez, HUD’s Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity.

The lawsuit was handled by the Civil Rights Division’s Housing and Civil Enforcement Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Leslie Herje of the Western District of Wisconsin.

Fighting housing discrimination is a top priority of the Justice Department, which prohibits discrimination in housing on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, familial status, national origin, and disability.

Individuals who believe that they have been victims of housing discrimination can call the Housing Discrimination Tip Line at 1-800-896-7743, e-mail the Justice Department at fairhousing@usdoj.gov, or contact the Department of Housing and Urban Development at 1-800-669-9777.

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