Landlord: OHA filed false claims

The Omaha Housing Authority is using a stricter inspection code for low-income housing than allowed under federal standards, a landlord suing the agency said Wednesday.

John Malone Sr. said the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development hasn’t approved OHA’s use of a stricter code, which the city has used to exclude his rental properties from Section 8 housing.

Malone filed a whistle-blower lawsuit against OHA in October on behalf of the federal government. It was unsealed Tuesday.

According to the lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court, OHA submitted false documents to the federal government and received at least $250,000 because of the misrepresentations. It also says OHA retaliated against Malone by denying low-income housing contracts for three of his properties, among other things.

Malone said Wednesday that one of his properties was failed for peeling paint on a garage, but federal Section 8 inspection standards don’t include garages and sheds.

Malone is seeking reinstatement to the low-income housing program and monetary damages.

OHA officials didn’t have an immediate comment.

The U.S. attorney’s office declined to take the case. A message left with that office was not immediately returned.

- AP

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