John Wingard Altman, Child Discrimination, South Carolina 2012

The Justice Department announced a $25,000 settlement with South Carolina landlord John Wingard Altman, who discriminated against families with children at his Altman Apartments in Summerville, S.C.

According to court documents, in July 2012, a federal court found Altman guilty of violating the Fair Housing Act by discouraging families with children from renting at his 16-unit apartment complex.

The settlement, approved by the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina, requires Altman to pay $15,000 to two individuals harmed by his discriminatory practices and $10,000 to the United States as a civil penalty.

Altman must also adopt a non-discrimination policy and undergo training on the Fair Housing Act, which prohibits discrimination in housing based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, and familial status.

“The Fair Housing Act protects families with children against housing discrimination,” said Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. “Providing an equal opportunity for families with children to access housing without discrimination is required by law critical and we will vigorously enforce the law to ensure all families have access to housing.”

U.S. Attorney William M. Nettles added, “This office follows the lead of the Department of Justice’s strong stance to ensure that access to one of the most basic of human needs, shelter, is not impeded by prejudice.”

The lawsuit was filed in September 2011, alleging that Altman used published advertisements and statements to testers to discourage families with children from renting at the apartment complex.

The Justice Department’s Fair Housing Testing Program obtained evidence through testers, who pose as renters to gather information about possible discriminatory practices.

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

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