Justice Department Files Fair Housing Lawsuit in Louisiana Against Reggie and Kim...

Justice Department Files Fair Housing Lawsuit in Louisiana Against Reggie and
Kim Collier

WASHINGTON, May 20 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Justice Department today
sued Reggie and Kim Collier, of Haughton, La., for violating the Fair Housing
Act when they interfered with the sale of a home because of the perceived race
of the buyers.

The suit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of
Louisiana, charges that the Colliers interfered with the sale of 4512 Camp Joy
Road, Camp Joy Marina, Haughton, La., in 2004, because they believed the
buyers were African-American. The suit alleges that Reggie Collier told the
sellers that if African Americans purchased their home, he would cut off their
water and sewer utilities. As a result of this alleged interference, the
buyers withdrew from their agreement to purchase the property.

"The Fair Housing Act ensures that persons have the right to purchase a home
free of racial discrimination," said Grace Chung Becker, Acting Assistant
Attorney General for the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division.

This lawsuit arose as a result of a complaint filed with the U.S. Department
of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) by the couple who attempted to sell
their home. After an investigation of the complaint, HUD issued a charge of
discrimination, and the complainants elected to have the case heard in federal
court.

The suit seeks a court order prohibiting future discrimination by the
Colliers, requiring the Colliers to pay monetary damages to the complainants,
and pay a civil penalty. The suit also alleges that the Colliers' conduct
constituted a pattern or practice of discrimination, or the denial of rights
to a group of persons that raises an issue of general public importance, and
seeks monetary damages for any other persons harmed by the Colliers' actions.

The federal Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing based on
race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability and familial status.
Since Jan. 1, 2001, the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division has filed
247 cases to enforce the Fair Housing Act, 69 of which have alleged
discrimination based on race. More information about the Civil Rights Division
and the laws it enforces is available at http://www.usdoj.gov/crt. Individuals
who believe that they may have been victims of housing discrimination can call
the Housing Discrimination Tip Line at 1-800-896-7743, email the Justice
Department at fairhousing@usdoj.gov, or contact the U.S. Department of Housing
and Urban Development at 1-800-669-9777.

SOURCE U.S. Department of Justice

U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Public Affairs, +1-202-514-2007, TDD
+1-202-514-1888