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Man sues local apartment owners for discrimination

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By Bridgette Outten, Staff Writer 5:44 PM Thursday, December 17, 2009

SPRINGFIELD — A state civil rights agency is moving forward with a lawsuit representing a man who alleges local apartment complex owners would not rent to him because of his race and religion.

The Ohio Civil Rights Commission found probable cause that Alhassan Abdel-Rashid, “a Black individual who was born in Ghana whose religion is Islam,” was a victim of discrimination, according to documents filed with the Clark County Common Pleas Court.

The Ohio Attorney General’s Office is “now moving forward with the case on behalf of the commission,” AG spokesman Ted Hart confirmed Thursday, Dec. 17.

A jury trial has been requested and the commission has asked the court to award damages in excess of $25,000 as well as Abdel-Rashid’s courts costs and attorney fees.

Abdel-Rashid alleged that Gloria Veskauf and Thomas Veskauf, mother and son and owners of the apartments located at 2529 Red Coach Dr., never checked his credit references or called his previous landlord after Abdel-Rashid submitted a rental application in January 2008.

Abdel-Rashid also accused the Veskaufs of not informing him when an apartment became available; and of renting the apartment he viewed to a white woman in February 2008, according to the documents.

At the time the woman moved in, all four of the Veskaufs’ units were rented to “Caucasian American-born individuals,” the complaint further states.

James Griffin, the Veskaufs’ attorney, said the mother and son “expects to be successful in defending themselves against these claims.

“The Veskaufs have rented to people of all races, all ages and with disabilities over the past 30 years they’ve had the building,” Griffin added.

Griffin said he had hoped to move the case along quickly, but no time line has been set.

Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0374 or boutten@coxohio.com.

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