Landlord is cited in housing discrimination case

The office of Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley (right) said today that it has obtained a consent judgment against a Fitchburg landlord in a housing discrimination case.

According to Coakley's office, the property owner, Farag Mohamed, discriminated against a tenant and her children by terminating her tenancy because he did not want to comply with laws requiring him to de-lead the apartment for the safety of the children.

The judgment, entered late last week in Worcester Superior Court, permanently prohibits Mohamed from discriminating against tenants or any person applying for housing and requires the landlord to pay the victim $4,000, Coakley's office said.

Coakley said in a statement, “By attempting to terminate the victim’s tenancy because she had children under the age of six and by refusing to abate lead paint after it was discovered, Mr. Mohamed violated his legal duties as a landlord.”
(By Chris Reidy, Globe staff)