Editor’s note. The following letter was presented to the Students’ Legal Assistance Office in order to be printed in The Northern Star. This letter is relevant to the From the Bar column below.

In response to a recent complaint filed with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development alleging racial and national origin discrimination, James Mason, and James Court Management and Old Orchard Partnership and Colonial East-West Partnership would like to make the following statement and apology.

First, we would like to apologize to Shau Luk, Regina Sinn and Lydia Tan for any inconvenience or trauma they may have suffered as a result of the misunderstanding that occurred. We would like to assure these individuals that each of our employees who were involved in this incident were formally notified, orally and in writing about the laws that prohibit housing discrimination and the proper manner to treat applicants without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, handicap, familial status, sexual preference or matriculation.

James Court Management will insititute practices to continue and strengthen our commitment to fair housing. All our staff will be trained in fair housing laws and equal opportunity management. Rental procedures and screening criteria will be formalized and put into writing. Rental will be done on a first come first serve basis.

We are aware that these measures cannot take away the hurt and ill will felt by the complaintants and the hurt felt by the undersigned, but we hope our efforts will ensure that other people will not be subjected to the same experience.

James Mason

Individually and as general partner and agent

James Court Management

Old Orchard Partnership

Colonial East-West Partnership