Suspected Slumlord Sued For Discrimination

Orland Park landlord Terence Flanagan has been sued by the U.S. government on charges that he discriminated against African-American prospective tenants, a violation of the federal Fair Housing Act. While it's a federal matter, I wonder if he might also be liable under state law?

Let's not get ahead of ourselves, though.

A federal lawsuit filed on behalf of the United States is seeking damages in the form of a court order preventing future discrimination, unspecified monetary damages for those harmed by his suspected discrimination and a civil penalty. The Justice Department even planted undercover "testers" to substantiate allegations of his discriminatory ways, as a DOJ press release details (via Yuba Net):

Flanagan asked a white tester employed by the Justice Department whether her husband was African-American and admitted to her that he did not want to rent to African-Americans.

The DOJ has been using testers since 1991 to inforce the non-discrimination policies set forth by the Fair Housing Act. Flanagan originally was flagged by the South Suburban Housing Center, which filed a formal complaint on behalf of Kamal Alex Majeid, an African-American who unsuccessfully tried renting a single-family house from the landlord. Majeid also filed his own lawsuit against Flanagan in August.

And now that this case is getting more publicity, perhaps other African-Americans who believe they were snubbed by Flanagan will pursue justice as well.