Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani Partners Jonathan R. Stuckel and Amanda A. King, alongside Associate Shawn McBrearty, obtained a finding of no probable cause from the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights (DCR) on behalf of a national property management company and the owner of a senior residential apartment complex.
The complainant alleged that the respondents violated the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination by subjecting him to disability-based unequal treatment, pursuing eviction because of his disability, and retaliating against him for engaging in protected activity. The allegations arose from several tenant-management interactions, including claims concerning a lock-replacement fee, the enforcement of building rules regarding personal property in common areas, the issuance of lease violation notices, and the filing of eviction proceedings.
GRSM defended the matter by demonstrating that the respondents’ actions were based on legitimate, non-discriminatory reasons, including documented lease violations, repeated disturbances, property rule enforcement issues, and reported incidents affecting other residents and property staff. The GRSM team also emphasized the absence of competent evidence linking the challenged conduct to the complainant’s disability or any protected activity.
After completing its investigation, the DCR rejected the complainant’s allegations and concluded that the record did not support a reasonable suspicion that the respondents engaged in disability discrimination or retaliation. The DCR found that the complainant failed to substantiate several core allegations, including that he was charged an improper lock-replacement fee, that property management physically struck him with an office door, or that the eviction proceedings were motivated by discriminatory or retaliatory animus. The DCR further credited the respondents’ evidence that the challenged actions were supported by legitimate lease enforcement concerns.
The DCR’s determination closed the administrative matter in favor of GRSM’s clients. The result highlights GRSM’s proficiency in defending residential property owners, management companies, and housing providers against administrative claims alleging disability discrimination, retaliation, and improper lease enforcement under the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination.