U.S. Department
of Justice
United States v. Encore Management Company, Inc. (S.D. W. Va.)
On March 20, 2017, the court entered a default judgment against defendants, Anthony James, Christopher Terrill James and Kisha James in United States v. Encore Management Co. (S.D. W. Va.), a Fair Housing Act pattern or practice/election case. The complaint, which was filed on November 14, 2014, alleged that the owner, property management company, district manager, and maintenance employee of a 56-unit apartment building located in Cross Lanes, West Virginia violated the Fair Housing Act by discriminating against tenants on the basis of sex (both quid pro quo and hostile environment sexual harassment), and that the owner, manager, district manager, and site manager retaliated against tenants who complained about the sexual harassment. The judgment awards civil penalties of $55,000 against Anthony James, $30,000 against Christopher Terrill James, and $5,000 against Kisha James; and prohibited Anthony James and Christopher Terrill James from directly or indirectly participating in property management at residential rental properties in the future. On August 12, 2016, the court entered a consent order with Encore Management Co. and Perkins Parke Limited Partnership, which required payment of $110,000 to seven adult and four minor victims and a $10,000 civil penalty. The case came to the Division after the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) received complaints, conducted an investigation, and issued a charge of discrimination.
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