DOJ Settles Sexual Harassment Lawsuit for $50,000

DOJ Civil Rights Press Releases

Filed March 4th, 2026

Detected March 14th, 2026

Summary

The Department of Justice announced a settlement with Green Bay landlord David Jones and D Jones Properties LLC for $50,000 to resolve a sexual harassment lawsuit. The settlement addresses violations of the Fair Housing Act and includes a two-year monitoring period.

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What changed

The Department of Justice, through its Civil Rights Division and in conjunction with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, has secured a $50,000 settlement against landlord David Jones and D Jones Properties LLC. This action resolves a lawsuit alleging violations of the Fair Housing Act (FHA) due to severe and pervasive sexual harassment of a female tenant. The lawsuit, filed on July 24, 2025, detailed allegations including unwelcome sexual comments, non-consensual physical contact, unauthorized entry, and retaliatory eviction attempts.

Under the terms of the settlement, the defendants will pay $50,000 to the victim, and David Jones will be required to undergo fair housing training. The Justice Department will monitor compliance for two years. This enforcement action underscores the DOJ's commitment to protecting tenants from sexual harassment and holding housing providers accountable for FHA violations. Regulated entities, particularly those managing rental properties, should review their policies and training programs to ensure compliance with fair housing laws and prevent similar incidents.

What to do next

Review tenant harassment policies and procedures.
Implement mandatory fair housing training for all property management staff.
Ensure compliance with the Fair Housing Act regarding tenant interactions and eviction processes.

Penalties

$50,000 to the tenant, two-year monitoring period by the Justice Department.

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Press Release

Justice Department Secures Settlement in Sexual Harassment Lawsuit Against Green Bay Landlord

Wednesday, March 4, 2026

Share For Immediate Release Office of Public Affairs The Justice Department announced today that David Jones and D Jones Properties LLC have agreed to pay $50,000 to resolve a lawsuit alleging that Jones sexually harassed a female tenant in violation of the Fair Housing Act (FHA).

The Justice Department’s lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin on July 24, 2025. The complaint alleges that Jones — who manages multiple rental properties in Green Bay, Wisconsin — engaged in severe, pervasive, and unwelcome sexual harassment of a female tenant by, among other things, making unwelcome sexual comments, grabbing the tenant without her consent, entering the tenant’s home without her permission, and moving to evict her when she asserted her rights under the FHA.

“Women should never feel unsafe in their own homes,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department will vigorously protect the rights of vulnerable tenants subjected to sexual harassment and hold housing providers accountable when they violate the law.”

“This settlement sends a clear message that sex discrimination in housing will not be tolerated,” said U.S. Attorney Brad D. Schimel for the Eastern District of Wisconsin. “No one should have to endure sexual harassment to keep a roof over their head.”

“As the Trump Administration’s top fair housing official, I am committed to ending the scourge of sexual harassment in housing and obtaining compensatory justice for the victims who have had to endure it,” said Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity Craig W. Trainor of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. “This settlement makes clear that Secretary Turner’s HUD will aggressively pursue Fair Housing Act violators while ensuring women feel safe and secure in their homes.”

Under the settlement agreement, Defendants must pay $50,000 to the tenant. The agreement also requires Jones to attend fair housing training and provides for a two-year monitoring period by the Justice Department.

The case was referred to the Division after the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) received a complaint, completed an investigation, and issued a charge of discrimination.

If you are a victim of sexual harassment by a landlord or property manager or have suffered other forms of housing discrimination, call the Justice Department’s Housing Discrimination Tip Line at 1-800-896-7743 or submit a report online to the Department of Justice or to the Department of Housing and Urban Development. More information about the Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available at www.justice.gov/crt. This settlement is part of the Justice Department’s Sexual Harassment in Housing Initiative. The initiative, which the Department launched in October 2017, seeks to address and raise awareness about sexual harassment by landlords, property managers, maintenance workers, loan officers and other people who have control over housing. Since launching the initiative, the department has filed 52 lawsuits alleging sexual harassment in housing and recovered more than $19 million for victims of such harassment.

Updated March 4, 2026 Topic Civil Rights Components Civil Rights Division USAO - Wisconsin, Eastern Press Release Number: 26-205