LA Landlord Sexually Harassed Female Tenants For Years: DOJ.

LOS ANGELES, CA — A property management company will pay $130,000 to female tenants of an apartment complex in Koreatown where a landlord sexually harassedd the renters for more than 10 years, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

The DOJ lawsuit alleges Abraham Kesary violated the Fair Housing Act by offering housing-related benefits in exchange for sexual acts, making unwelcome sexual comments and advances to female tenants, entering female tenants homes without their permission and subjecting the women to unwelcome sexual acts.

"The lengthy course of sexual harassment against female residents alleged in this case is disturbing and unacceptable," said U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada for the Central District of California. "We will continue to be vigilant in holding landlords and property managers accountable for discrimination and harassment and the Fair Housing Act gives us a powerful tool to seek justice for victims."

According to the lawsuit, Kesary harassed women living at 445 S. Western Ave. in Los Angeles since at least 2012. The consent order prohibits Kesary from managing any additional rental housing properties in the future.

The property company M&F Development LLC will pay $120,000 to compensate the women harmed by the harassment and an additional $10,000 civil penalty to the United States, the DOJ said.

Going forward, M&F Development LLC will be required to retain an independent property manager for the apartment complex and must implement non-discrimination policies and complaint procedures to prevent sexual harassment at the complex in the future. Both Kesary and the property management company will be required to take fair housing training.

“Tenants have the right to live in their homes free from sexual harassment by their landlords,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department will continue to vigorously enforce fair housing laws against landlords who prey on vulnerable residents.”

Individuals may report sexual harassment or other forms of housing discrimination by calling the Justice Department's Housing Discrimination Tip Line at 833-591-0291 or online.