Wis. woman owes $15K for not renting to single mom

LA CROSSE, Wis. (AP) — A western Wisconsin landlord has agreed to pay $15,000 to a single mother after denying her a rental property because she didn't have a man to help shovel the snow.

A La Crosse Tribune report says the settlement was filed Friday between the mother and landlord Darlene Dovenberg of West Salem.

The mother filed a complaint with federal housing officials alleging that Dovenberg refused to rent her the rural Bangor home. Dovenberg later rented it to two men.

Dovenberg didn't immediately return a message left Saturday by The Associated Press. But she told AP in September the complaint mischaracterized her intentions. She says the home is in a remote part of La Crosse County with poor cellphone reception, and she was worried about the woman's safety.

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Information from: La Crosse Tribune, http://www.lacrossetribune.com

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