Attorney General Sues Melrose-Based Realty Trust For Alleged Discriminatory Housing Ad

(Editor's note: The story was updated at 4:05 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 22.)

The state Attorney General's office has filed a suit in Suffolk Superior Court against Melrose-based Mt. V.M. Realty Trust and the trust's manager, Nicholas Keramaris, alleging that Kermaris placed an ad on Craiglist.org that stated an apartment could not be rented to families with children under 6-years-old because the apartment was not de-leaded, in violation of state anti-discrimination housing laws.

According to a press release from the Attorney General's office dated Dec. 22, under Massachusetts law, it is illegal to refuse to rent or steer families away from rental properties because they have young children whose presence triggers an owner's duty to eliminate lead hazards that pose serious health risks.

Kermaris told Melrose Patch on Wednesday afternoon that the advertisement only specifically stated that the apartment—one of the 20 units in the building, some de-leaded, others not—is not de-leaded.

"If an applicant comes to me and says 'look, I have a child,' I say, 'OK, fine, this apartment has lead paint, but I have another one, same size, same everything, and this one is de-leaded. This would be better for you,'" he said. "I didn't discriminate. If she [the complainant] actually talked to me, I would've told her, 'I have an apartment for you.'"

The Attorney General's Office filed the complaint after the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination ("MCAD") found probable cause that Keramaris discriminated against a family, according to the Attorney General's press release.

Keramaris said that he heard from MCAD about their probable cause finding and requested a trial in Superior Court.

"I felt that the judge might be more impartial," he said. "My judgement call."

Keramaris maintained that he had not spoken to the complainant prior to the complaint being filed with MCAD.

"I never met her, never remember getting a phone call from her," he said. "Her complaint claims that she left me a message informing me that I have a discriminatory advertisement ... I don't remember ever getting a message like that either."

Under state law, the Attorney General's Office is responsible for enforcing fair housing laws and prosecuting housing discrimination cases following probable cause determinations from MCAD, according to the Attorney General's press release. The Attorney General's Office is seeking an order prohibiting Mt. V.M. and Keramaris from engaging in housing discrimination; requiring Keramaris and any others who managed the property to attend fair housing training; and for compensatory and punitive damages, civil penalties, and attorney's fees and costs. 

This matter is being handled by Assistant Attorney General Patricio Rossi of Attorney General Coakley's Civil Rights Division.