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Sexual Harassment Tenant Landlord Lands $105,000 Fine
A California landlord and property manager accused of sexually harassing tenants for over a decade has agreed to pay $105,000 in a settlement reached with the U.S. government, the Grimy Times has learned. Filomeno Hernández, a property manager near MacArthur Park in Los Angeles, allegedly subjected female tenants to unwanted sexual advances, including unwanted contact, inappropriate comments, and offers to reduce rent in exchange for sex.
According to court documents, Hernández’s alleged behavior occurred at two residential buildings he managed: 729 South Bonnie Brae Street and 720 Westlake Avenue in Los Angeles. The settlement, which still requires approval from the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, also resolves allegations against Ramin Akhavan, Bonnie Brae Investments LLC, and Westlake Property Services LLC, which owned or managed the rental properties where the alleged harassment took place.
The $105,000 settlement includes a $100,000 compensation package for women who were harmed by Hernández’s actions and a $5,000 civil fine. The agreement also prohibits future discrimination, bars Hernández from participating in residential rentals or property management, and requires him to leave the properties and resign as property manager.
Hernández’s alleged behavior was first reported to the U.S. government in 2020. The government alleged that Hernández subjected female tenants to a decade-long campaign of unwanted sexual advances, including unwanted contact, inappropriate comments, and offers to reduce rent in exchange for sex. The alleged harassment took place at two residential buildings he managed: 729 South Bonnie Brae Street and 720 Westlake Avenue in Los Angeles.
“The sexual harassment of vulnerable tenants is an outrageous violation of the Fair Housing Act,” said Kristen Clarke, the Assistant Attorney General of the Civil Rights Division. “The U.S. government has committed to pursuing predatory landlords and property managers and ensuring that no one is discriminated against in housing based on their sex.”
The settlement marks the latest case in the U.S. government’s efforts to combat sexual harassment in housing. Since the launch of the initiative in 2017, the U.S. government has filed 21 lawsuits alleging sexual harassment in housing and recovered over $3.9 million for victims of such harassment. The government continues to investigate and prosecute cases of sexual harassment in housing, and encourages anyone who has experienced such harassment to come forward and report it.
The U.S. government is committed to enforcing the Fair Housing Act, which prohibits discrimination in housing based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, or family status. The Fair Housing Act is a cornerstone of civil rights law, and the U.S. government will continue to aggressively enforce it to protect the rights of all Americans.
Key Facts
- State: Federal
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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