MICHIGAN – The owners of the Alger Meadows Apartments in Grand Rapids, Michigan, have agreed to pay $550,000 as damages and to terminate property manager Dale VanderVennen’s role in managing the complex to settle a lawsuit alleging that VanderVennen sexually harassed female tenants in violation of the Fair Housing Act, officials said.
The $510,000 will be used to pay damages to thirteen women who have already been identified and to any additional victims who are identified through the process established in the settlement agreement. Also $40,000 will be paid to the federal government.
The lawsuit alleged that VanderVennen did the following:
- He made unwelcome sexual comments and sexual advances to female tenants
- Touched himself in a sexual manner in front of female tenants
- He entered their homes without notice or permission.
- He conditioned housing benefits on tenants engaging in sexual acts
- He took adverse action against tenants who refused his advances.
The lawsuit alleges that the owners were liable for VanderVennen’s actions. The Justice Department began its investigation after the Fair Housing Center of Greater Grand Rapids brought complaints about VanderVennen’s conduct to the department’s attention.
“The magnitude of this settlement reflects the seriousness of the defendant’s conduct,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Molly Moran for the Civil Rights Division. “No woman or her family should have to endure sexual harassment to keep the keys to their home.”
The Defendants Can’t Discriminate
The consent decree also prohibits all of the defendants from engaging in discrimination, and it requires that the owners create non-discrimination policies for their properties and participate in fair housing training to prevent such conduct in the future, officials said.
It also bars VanderVennen from personally participating in the management or operation of residential rental properties in the future and requires him to retain an independent manager to manage any rental properties he may later own, authorities said.
In addition to VanderVennen, officials said the defendants include four closely held companies that own and operate Alger Meadows. Those companies are Jack and Linda Properties LLC, DDJ Rental Real Estate LLC, Calcutta Associates LLC and LLJ LLC, all of which are affiliated with Jack VanderVennen.