Apartments face bias suit

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BOISE, Idaho (AP) - The Intermountain Fair Housing Council is suing an apartment complex in Twin Falls, claiming discrimination against potential renters based on gender and disability.

The council filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court this week, contending that the 12-unit Caliber Courts and owner Debbie Broadie committed sex discrimination by requiring a lease provision that prohibited any overnight guests of the opposite sex of the tenant.

The company's rental application also violates federal Fair Housing Act rules by inquiring into nature and severity of prospective tenants' medical conditions, the council contends.

The council is asking a judge to order Broadie and the business to establish a victims' compensation fund totaling nearly $1 million and to publish notices in regional newspapers asking any other potential victims of discrimination to come forward to receive damages.

Broadie told The Associated Press on Wednesday that she had not seen the lawsuit and so couldn't comment but said a related administrative action had been dismissed by the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The 12-unit complex caters to College of Southern Idaho students with shared living areas and private bedrooms for four or five people per unit.

The leases ban drinking, smoking and illegal drugs on the premises and require that tenants do household chores and allow regular ''clean checks'' by the landlord. Tenants also must abide by a ''Code of Honor,'' promising to be honest in their actions and to refrain from putting their roommates in a compromising situation.

''Caliber Courts LLP wants your college experience to be the very best,'' the lease reads. ''The above rules and conditions are not meant to restrain you, but to protect you from embarrassing or conflicting situations. We're looking forward to a great year with you!''

The lawsuit was filed a potential tenant, Craig Kalkman, said he was denied residency after disclosing that he was being treated for bipolar disorder and sleep apnea.

Kalkman was told last Aug. 7 that Caliber Courts had units available and was given a rental application, according to the lawsuit. He completed the form, including the question, ''Are you now, or have you been under a Dr.'s care during the past 3 years? If so, explain,'' and turned it in with a $250 security deposit.

Six days later, Broadie left a message for Kalkman saying that there were no longer any rental units available and that his $250 deposit would be returned, according to the lawsuit.

In the lawsuit Kalkman claimed that his father, Cees Kalkman, called Caliber Courts to see if any units were available and was told by Broadie that there were. When Kalkman's mother, Catherine Kalkman, called to ask why her son had been denied residency, Broadie told her no units were available, according to the lawsuit.

Also in August, a ''tester'' with the housing council called to ask if any units were available and whether she could have her medical service dog with her. According to the lawsuit, Broadie told her she would first have to check with her roommates to see if they objected and would have to pay an extra deposit for the animal.

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