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LOUISIANA RECORD

Friday, March 29, 2024

Fair housing agency alleges discrimination from property manager

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A non-profit fair housing advocacy corporation has sued an Orleans Parish resident and his business, alleging discrimination.

Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center Inc. (GNOFHAC) filed a complaint April 23 in U.S. District Court of the Eastern District of Louisiana against Jim Hotard and 3839 Ulloa Street, alleging civil rights violations.

According to the complaint, Hotard owns and manages rental units for 3839 Ulloa Street and other entities in the New Orleans area. The suits says the housing center conducted investigations in March and April 2013 and concluded the defendant engaged in discriminatory action against African-Americans regarding rental applications.

Five paired test applications were made by testers of both African-American and Caucasian backgrounds posing as potential renters, the suit says and, in every case, the white applicants were responded to promptly and the black applicants either received no response, a delayed response, and/or other obstacles to viewing and renting apartments.

The plaintiff says it brings this suit to obtain relief for its injuries and to prevent other individuals from future housing discrimination.

GNOFHAC seeks: declaratory and injunctive relief; compensatory and punitive damages; attorney fees; expenses; and costs.

It is is self-represented by attorneys Peter Theis and Elizabeth Owen, both of Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center Inc. in New Orleans.

U.S. District Court of the Eastern District of Louisiana case number: 2:15-cv-01320-SSV-DEK.

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