U.S. Department
of Justice
United States v. Salazar (E.D. Cal.)
On August 28, 2023, the United States filed an election complaint in United States v. Salazar et al. (E.D. Cal.). The complaint alleges that the defendants violated the Fair Housing Act by discriminating and retaliating against the tenant of a single-family home in Bakersfield, California. Specifically, the complaint alleges that the maintenance worker of the property repeatedly asked the tenant to engage in sexual acts with him, persistently commented on her appearance, touched her body without her consent and took digital photographs of framed print pictures in her home of her and her daughter. The tenant reported the harassing behavior to the property manager, who is also the maintenance worker’s father. After she reported the harassment and threatened to contact a lawyer or the police if it continued, the maintenance worker and manager refused to fix a leaking gas line in her dwelling, causing her to go without heat for one month and consequently forcing her to move out. The complaint also alleges that the property owner is vicariously liable for the maintenance worker’s and manager’s conduct. The case was referred to the Division after the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) received a complaint, conducted an investigation, and issued a charge of discrimination.