A southwest suburban townhome association changed its bylaws covering rental of its four units to block prospective black tenants, according to a lawsuit.
The lawsuit, filed by Attorney General Lisa Madigan, was filed after the owner of one of the units filed a complaint in September 2013 with the Illinois Department of Human Rights alleging the change in bylaws was discriminatory, the Southtown Star is reporting.
The townhome owner had moved out of his unit in June 2012 and, unable to find a buyer, had attempted to find a renter for the unit, in the 9900 block of West 143rd Street in Orland Park, according to the suit, filed Wednesday in Cook County Circuit Court.
The lawsuit alleges other members of the four-person townhome association amended the bylaws to prohibit rentals in May 2013 to block the townhome owner from potentially renting his unit to black tenants.
The change in the bylaws came after the owner had showed the townhome to blacks interested in renting it, according to the complaint. He ultimately sold the townhome last October, according to the lawsuit.
Madigan’s office is seeking in excess of $35,000 in damages for the townhome owner as well as $10,000 in civil penalties.
