The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) has announced a lawsuit against a landlord it says violated the Fair Housing Act. The DOJ shared the news on Aug. 24, 2026, using both a press release and a Facebook post about the case.
According to the Richland Source, the lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, and it claims that Alfred Falgiani Jr. of Girard had been sexually harassing some of his female tenants since 2008. The complaint didn’t stop there, though, and it listed several accusations that had been levied against the 72-year-old Falgiani, seeking civil penalties, monetary damages, and a court order that would bar him from repeating those actions in the future.
The lawsuit is part of a greater program through the DOJ, the Sexual Harassment in Housing Initiative. The Richland Source reports that the initiative began in 2017 and was designed to raise awareness about the different types of housing-related sexual harassment and address it whenever possible.
There have been 54 lawsuits filed since the initiative began, and $19 million has been awarded to victims so far.
The DOJ Accused Falgiani of Four Different Violations of the Fair Housing Act
The press release stated that current and former tenants accused Falgiani of making unwelcome sexual comments and advances, offering housing-related benefits in exchange for sexual acts, and subjecting female tenants to unwanted groping and touching. Additionally, Falgiani is accused of taking adverse housing-related actions against those who stood up to his advances.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon addressed the lawsuit in the press release, accusing landlords who do these things of violating the law. “The Justice Department will continue to hold accountable those who abuse vulnerable residents and will work tirelessly to ensure that tenants can live free from sexual harassment and coercion,” she said.
Officials are asking anyone who has been harassed or experienced housing-related discrimination by Falgiani to call the tip line at 1-833-591-0291. People who would rather report the abuse electronically can do so by sending an email to [email protected] or by submitting a report through the online portal.
Who Should You Contact If Your Landlord Violates the Fair Housing Act?
There are many different protections afforded to people under the Fair Housing Act. If you think that your landlord is violating them, you can file a federal complaint through the HUD Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO) at 1-800-669-9777, according to the HUD website.
There are also local resources available, depending on where you live, and you may want to research who to contact in your state if you have questions.
“No one should have to live in fear of a landlord making highly inappropriate advances,” U.S. Attorney David M. Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio said in the DOJ press release. “Housing owners and managers who engage in loathsome behavior and infringe on a person’s right to feel secure in their own home will face justice.”
There doesn’t appear to be a current court date on the docket for this case yet, so those interested in the outcome should check the DOJ’s website for updates in the coming weeks.