Morristown Landlord Accused Of Racial Discrimination: NJ AG

MORRISTOWN, NJ — A Morristown landlord is accused of discriminating against renters by allegedly refusing to rent a unit to a black man, and trying to bar children from rentals, New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal said.

Officials issued a finding of probable cause against the duplex owner, Adrienne Brown, following a six-day email exchange in 2016 where she ultimately refused to rent to Timothy Jenkins, who is black. She later rented the unit to two white renters, officials said.

"There’s no place for housing discrimination in New Jersey, based on race or on any other protected characteristic," said Grewal. "We are committed to rooting it out, whether that means educating first-time landlords on compliance with our anti-discrimination laws, taking on implicit bias, or eradicating redlining."

During the email exchange between Brown, Jenkins, and Jenkins' real estate agent, Brown allegedly made three "unsolicited references" to Jenkins race, including blaming the prolonged negotiation period on Jenkins' race.

"Specifically, Brown suggested that, because Jenkins is Black, the agent 'may have been reluctant' to strike a strong negotiating posture with him "and thus we have both been exposed to an unwarranted delay and a good deal of back and forthing,'" officials said.

Brown is also accused of attempting to include a "no children" clause in the lease. It is not legal to bar children from housing in New Jersey. Jenkins and Brown's own agent refused to sign a lease with that clause, officials said.

Brown did not agree to an interview with the state's Division of Civil Rights ahead of the probable cause finding, officials said.

"Race discrimination in housing, whether explicit or implicit, is illegal in New Jersey," said Division on Civil Rights Director Rachel Wainer Apter. "A prospective tenant’s race is simply not relevant to a rental inquiry. It is also illegal to refuse to rent to a family with children, or to attempt to get a prospective tenant to sign an agreement that bars families with children. Landlords and real estate agents who would like further information on fair housing laws in New Jersey should contact our office."