Chicago – A white couple on the South Side face federal discrimination charges after they allegedly took their Bridgeport neighborhood home off the market when a black couple submitted the highest offer.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced Tuesday it is charging Daniel and Adrienne Sabbia, and their real estate agent Jeffrey Lowe with refusing to sell a home to a black couple because of race.
HUD alleges the couple and Lowe stalled negotiations and took the property off the market after receiving a $1.7 million offer from radio personality and comedian George Willborn and his wife, businesswoman Peytyn Willborn.
The 5,000-8,000-square-foot home on the 3300 block of South Normal had been listed for $1.799 million (after being dropped from $1.99 million) and the Willborns submitted the highest offer received in the two years it had been on the market, according to the complaint.
The offer was submitted in January 2010, but the Sabbias refused to sign the sales contract, the complaint alleges. When the Willborns’ broker said it appeared to be an issue of race, Lowe denied the charge.
Lowe then reported that the Sabbias had decided to take the house off the market because they changed their mind about moving, could not find a suitable new home and wanted to keep their kids in their current schools, the complaint alleges.
The Sabbias later told HUD they did not want to accept less than the full price of $1.799 million, the complaint alleges. But Lowe told HUD investigators that Daniel Sabbia had expressed a preference not to sell his home to an African-American.
After the Willborns filed a complaint with HUD, Lowe contacted them and offered to sell the home, with all its furniture, for $1.799 million, the complaint alleges. And two months later in March 2010, the home was re-listed at that price.
The case will be heard by an administrative law judge unless any party elects to have it heard in U.S. District Court. If an administrative law judge finds that discrimination has occurred, he may award damages to aggrieved parties, the release said.
The judge may also order injunctive relief to deter further discrimination, as well as fines of up to $16,000 and payment of attorney fees. If the matter goes to federal court, the judge may also award punitive damages.
“Racial fairness is important at all income levels. Civil rights enforcement must be the effective shield against housing discrimination that in this case wealth was not,” John Trasviña, HUD assistant secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity, said in a release.
The charge also names the Lowe Group Chicago and Prudential Rubloff Properties.
Originally reported by FOX News Chicago. Read the original article here.