Justice Department announces largest harassment verdict

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) _ A federal jury has ordered a landlord to pay $1.1 million for sexually harassing female tenants, the Justice Department announced Thursday. <br/><br/>Bobby Veal was ordered to pay

Friday, May 14th 2004, 6:07 am

By: News On 6

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) _ A federal jury has ordered a landlord to pay $1.1 million for sexually harassing female tenants, the Justice Department announced Thursday.

Bobby Veal was ordered to pay 11 women amounts ranging from $10,001 to $310,000 in what the department said was the largest judgment it has ever won under the Fair Housing Act.

The department sued in federal court in 2002 after the women _ residents of rental properties owned by Veal and his wife _ complained to the Kansas City Human Rights Department.

Veal, who represented himself at the trial, offered no defense witnesses and chose not to make a closing argument. He said he plans to appeal the jury's decision.

According to the women's testimony, Veal's actions included unwanted verbal sexual advances, unwanted touching, asking for sexual favors in exchange for tenancy, and threats to retaliate against women who refused his advances.

A former resident also testified that Veal forced her to have sex twice in her apartment.

Most of the victims were vulnerable to harassment because they were lower-income, single women with few opportunities to seek other housing, the Justice Department said.

The department said it will seek a court order requiring the Veals to turn over their rental properties to an independent management company.