Oct 1, 2013 1 min read

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Justice Department is suing the owners and on-site manager of a Pittsburgh-area apartment complex, saying black “testers” sent to rent apartments earlier this year were turned away, while whites were told apartments were available.

The federal lawsuit filed Tuesday targets S-2 Properties and Bill Turzai, the on-site manager at Baldwin Commons, who referred questions to attorney John Paul Corcoran Jr.

Corcoran tells The Associated Press, “The claims are absolutely meritless. My clients do not and have never discriminated against anyone.”

The lawsuit contends a white “tester” was offered a two-bedroom townhome on Feb. 19, while a black person was told the complex was “fully occupied” the next day. Hours later, another white tester was allegedly told a unit was available immediately.

Federal attorneys claim tests in March and April produced similar results.