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By Mark Moran - Producer-Editor, Contact - News
Big Sky Connection - A Livingston, Montana landlord is required to pay a $25,000 fine for discriminating against a resident of an apartment complex he manages and undergo housing discrimination training. Dana Christian made unwanted advances toward the daughter of a resident and after she complained, Christian made living conditions untenable for the resident. Comments from Pam Bean, executive director, of Montana Fair Housing.
Click on the image above for the audio. The U.S. Justice Department has ruled against a Billings, Montana, landlord in what became a high profile housing discrimination case. (Adobe Stock)
Mark Moran
September 5, 2024 - The U.S. Justice Department has issued a ruling against a Livingston, Montana, landlord for discriminating against a tenant. The consent decree requires the defendant to complete training on discrimination in housing and awards the complainant $25,000.
A tenant of a Livingston apartment complex alleged Yellowstone Apartments landlord Dana Christian discriminated against her after the tenant asked Christian to stop making advances toward her daughter who was visiting her mother from Russia. The complaint alleged Christian made life increasingly difficult for the tenant after the complaint, even though she had lived there for years with no issues. The Justice Department ordered Christian to pay $25,000 to compensate her for moving costs, time and emotional hardship.
Pam Bean, executive director of the nonprofit Montana Fair Housing, said the ruling sets a precedent for equal housing opportunity.
"When issues arise such as did with this complainant, there's an avenue to address those, hopefully prior to the filing of complaints," Bean explained.
The federal court ruling also requires Christian to undergo training on what constitutes housing discrimination and post-Montana's fair housing guidelines on the properties he manages.
Bean called the ruling a win for renters across Montana, who sometimes feel like they do not have the power to fight landlord discrimination cases for fear of the same type of retribution laid out in the Christian case.
"Providing housing providers the message that this behavior is intolerable and is illegal," Bean added.
Christian has not responded to requests for comment.
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