SAN DIEGO — A San Diego landlord has been ordered to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to female tenants over claims of sexual harassment.
Ron Neri owns properties all over the county that offer low-income housing. Tenants said he used his position and their vulnerability to make unwanted sexual advances, which violates the Fair Housing Act.
"I felt like this is really what I have to resort to to take care of my family,” said Ashley Nelson.
Nelson first met Neri when she applied to live in an apartment complex he owned.
"Five minutes after I left his office, he was texting me, asking me, you know, since I approved your application, what do you think about going out to dinner with me," said Nelson.
Nelson is a single mom of two children. Knowing she needed a place for them to live, she said nothing.
A couple of weeks later, she claims his advances got forceful while giving her a tour of a potential unit.
“He got me in a bedroom and started running his hands up my shirt, trying to run them down my pants. And I had to physically put my hands on him and, like, push him off of me and tell him, you know, get the hell off of me," said Nelson.
Soon after, Nelson says Neri started harassing her in other ways, by pointing cameras at her door or showing up unannounced.
She came forward after receiving a letter from an attorney seeking information about Neri.
Other women, specifically those who were single and low-income, had similar experiences, saying he would sometimes threaten them with eviction if they didn't comply.
"They didn't accept his date, or they didn't accept his kiss, or they pushed him away, or they would throw him out of the apartment. And we're talking about a man that would enter the apartment without permission. Sometimes he would be there when they got home,” said Estela De Los Rios, Executive Director of CSA San Diego County, a government funded agency which works to uphold and enforce fair housing laws.
The nonprofit filed a complaint in federal court against Neri on behalf of three women. A settlement was just reached in the case.
Neri was ordered to pay the victims a total of $275,000 in damages, and change the way he does business. For example, he can't contact current or prospective tenants unless requested, and must undergo fair housing training.
De Los Rios says it sets a precedent.
"Hopefully, he will learn that sexual harassment is a major violation, and he won't do this again."
Nelson can only hope, saying she wishes criminal charges were brought against Neri. Either way, she's proud for speaking up.
"Just having, you know, the courage to stand up to him. It meant a lot to me."
As for Neri, he denies the allegations and told CBS 8,
"There is no determination of guilt or liability on my part in the court agreement. The decision to settle was a business decision."
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