On October 11, 2012, a federal judge approved a settlement agreement in FHJC, et al. v. Revlyn Apts., LLC, et al., a case alleging racial discrimination at Brooklyn apartment buildings. The lawsuit, which was filed in March 2012, was based on a testing investigation conducted by the Fair Housing Justice Center (“FHJC”) in 2010 and 2011. The Complaint alleged that white testers sent by the FHJC to the buildings were told about available apartments and given truthful information about rent amounts while their African-American counterparts were told that there were no availabilities and/or quoted higher rents.

The settlement agreement provides $225,000 for the FHJC and the four African-American testers who were given false information about rental availabilities to cover damages, attorney’s fees, and costs. The settlement also includes injunctive relief, which will cover a period of three years and apply to three rental buildings in Bay Ridge, Gravesend, and Sheepshead Bay. Defendants Revlyn Apartments LLC and Shorefront Apartments LLC will adopt, display, and distribute a non-discrimination policy; advertise available apartments; maintain rental records and make them available for FHJC inspection; and provide training for all employees on fair housing laws. The plaintiffs are represented by ECBAWM’s Diane L. Houk and Julia Einbond.