Wow! A Springfield Township woman filed documents in court Tuesday claiming her landlord texted her: “I told you I want you gone I will not rent to African Americans again” and that he would “rather put a white family in the unit.”
Sergey Briskman and Briskman Real Estate reportedly started the eviction process against Dermisha Pickett in January. Pickett’s lawyer, Fanon Rucker, spoke with WCPO 9 and said he needed to make some fixes to the property after an inspection. Prickett is a disabled woman with 6 kids and she shared a series of alleged text messages over to Rucker once she received the disturbing messages.
“The inspection will fail because I’m not fixing anything or doing anything until you are gone,” the text message said. “I will not rent to African Americans again.” Another text said: “It’s nothing against you I (would) just rather put a white family in this unit … You did nothing wrong I just don’t want a family of color here maybe you could try to go to a shelter.”
Rucker also shared a text message, which he said was left for Pickett from Briskman. “I want my keys. I want you out of the unit,” the message said. “I’m trying to sell the house, and I really don’t want any African Americans in the house.”
Rucker said in the court filing that this case could be the “most outrageous, egregious and clearly racist and illegal declaration ever seen in this court.”
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According to the report Prickett lived in the residence since 2014 and was never late on her rent. Rucker believes the eviction is based “solely” on race which is a violation of both state and federal law. Pickett and Rucker filed their counterclaim to the eviction in Hamilton County Municipal Court this week. A hearing is scheduled for Friday in the eviction, but Rucker has asked the case be moved to Common Pleas Court.
The counterclaim accuses Briskman of discrimination, violating the Federal Housing Act and the intentional infliction of emotional distress. The claim asks the court to deny the eviction, order Briskman to enter a lease with Pickett and for at least $50,000 in compensatory and punitive damages.
“I’ve been doing this for about 25 or 26 years,” Rucker said. “I can’t recall any time in any case I’ve dealt with where the evidence of discrimination is more glaring.”
#Socialites what are your thoughts on this?