WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development said Thursday that it has charged a Texas newspaper and its parent company with violating the Fair Housing Act.
The San Antonio Express-News and Hearst Communi cations are accused of accepting and publishing 42 ads for rental housing that excluded potential renters because of race, religion, sex, national origin or familial status.
Among the ads was one seeking a Hispanic or white renter, and one seeking a renter without children, HUD officials said.
"We have not yet seen the complaint, so comment would be premature," Hearst spokesman Paul Luthringer said.
The charge stems from an April 2002 complaint filed by the Fair Housing Council of Greater San Antonio, a private, nonprofit organization funded by HUD to investigate alleged violations of the act.
An Oct. 5 hearing on the charges will be held by a U.S. administrative law judge in the San Antonio area, unless either side chooses to have the case decided by a federal judge in U.S. District Court. That decision must be made by Aug. 9.
Housing discrimination charges heard before an administrative law judge carry a maximum civil penalty of $11,000 for a first offense, plus damages and attorney fees.
Previous 
Send 
Print 
Discuss 
Feedback
