United States v. Melinda Bautista Teruel (N.D. Cal.)

On July 17, 2023, the United States filed a Fair Housing Act “election” complaint in United States v. Teruel, et al. (N.D. Cal). The complaint alleges that the manager of a two-story, seven-unit apartment complex in Burlingame, California, discriminated on the basis of familial status in violation of 42 U.S.C. §§ 3604(a), (b), (c) and 3617 by pressuring a couple, who had two babies during their tenancy, to move out of their one-bedroom apartment and then falsely accusing the family of causing significant damage to the unit after the family moved out. The complaint names Melinda Bautista Teruel as a defendant both in her individual capacity and as trustee of the Melinda Bautista Teruel 1992 Revocable Trust, which owned the property during the family’s tenancy. The case was referred to the Division after the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development received a complaint, conducted an investigation, and issued a charge of discrimination.