“Luxury 2 bedroom Victorian, updated kitchen and bathroom, appliances, laundry, off street parking. Secure building with intercom…”
Sounds perfect doesn’t it? Vicki Wilson* thought it was a dream come true. Wilson, a single mother of two, found this ad in a local newspaper during the winter of 2001. She called to schedule an appointment to see the property and when the owner found out it was for her and her two small children, she was immediately told that the apartment was “unsuitable” for her family because there was no yard.
Ms. Wilson told the owner that the yard was not her primary concern and the owner went on to ask her where she was currently living. When Ms. Wilson told the owner that she was staying with her mother, he told Ms. Wilson that he would not be able to show her the apartment without a landlord reference. Ms. Wilson attempted to explain that she moved out of her apartment because of lead paint and other health and safety issues. The owner repeated that he would not show her the apartment because she did not have a landlord reference.
After Ms. Wilson was denied the opportunity to view the apartment, she called HOME and explained the situation to a Fair Housing Specialist. HOME ascertained the name of the landlord, investigated, and found evidence that corroborated Ms. Wilson’s claim of discrimination.
With HOME’s assistance, Ms. Wilson filed a complaint against Joseph P. Suppa with the State Division of Human Rights (DHR) alleging discrimination on the basis of familial status. After a preliminary investigation, DHR found that there was “probable cause” to believe that he had engaged in the discriminatory acts as stated by Ms. Wilson.
Denying any wrongdoing, the owner declined the public hearing and elected to have the matter heard in State Supreme Court. At a preliminary hearing before Supreme Court Justice Patrick H. NeMoyer the case was settled for $2,000 and an agreement to never illegally deny an apartment from anyone again based on their familial status or discriminate against anyone in terms, conditions, or privileges of the rental of any housing accommodation.
*Names have been changed.
