Windsor Locks Landlords to Pay More Than $100K in Damages for Discrimination

A federal judge has ordered two Windsor Locks landlords to pay more than $100,000 for discriminating against prospective tenants based on their race, federal prosecutors announced Monday.

Merline Hylton, the owner of 5 Townline Rd. in Windsor Locks, her husband Clifton Hylton and Hylton Real Estate Management (HREM) were ordered to pay compensatory and punitive damages for violating the Fair Housing Act, according to a news release issued by the U.S. Department of Justice.

The case arose in October 2011, when the United States brought an action against the Hyltons after the Connecticut Fair Housing Center filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development on behalf of the alleged victims of discrimination, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

“Discrimination in housing in Connecticut will not be tolerated and those who discriminate will be aggressively pursued,” Acting U.S. Attorney Daly said in a prepared statement. “We will not hesitate to take enforcement action where a person’s federal rights are denied."

The judge also ordered that the Hyltons complete three hours of fair housing training each year, and post signs on their properties indicating they are available on a non-discriminatory basis, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.