JANESVILLE — A Rock County judge found Janesville landlord Richard Donahue guilty of dozens of city ordinance violations, meaning Donahue will have to pay more than $18,000 in fines.
On Jan. 18, the City of Janesville filed 35 separate cases against Donahue, charging him with violating city ordinances for things such as rodent infestations, lack of heating systems or hot water, improperly installed electrical and plumbing systems, and crumbling kitchen and bathroom floors.
On Dec. 18, Rock County Court Judge John Wood found Donahue guilty in all the cases and gave him 60 days to pay the fines. He was charged $515.50 per violation.
Donahue already was facing $623,000 in damages and civil penalties from February when he settled a sexual harassment lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Justice. He will have to pay 13 women $500,000 in monetary damages and $123,695 in civil penalties to the federal government, which was the maximum penalty allowed under the Fair Housing Act.
The Department of Justice filed suit against Donahue and his wife, Mary, in 2022 for sexually harassing female tenants at his properties for more than 20 years. The 13 women who came forward claimed Donahue often entered their residences without consent and would offer reduced rent, or excuse late or unpaid rent in return for sexual favors.
As part of the settlement, Donahue was banned from managing the more than 100 residential properties he owned in Janesville.
