Underwood Tenants Group

Come support Hasani Lee in Douglas County Court!

Wed July 9 2025, at 10:00am.
Courtroom 506, Judge Marlon Polk.
1701 Farnam St F2, Omaha, NE 68183

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 1, 2025

Caretaker and Advocate Files Federal Retaliation Lawsuit Against Omaha Housing Authority Following False Statements and Improper Eviction Attempt

OMAHA, NE — A federal retaliation lawsuit filed by Hasani Lee, the court-appointed Power of Attorney and approved live-in caretaker for his elderly, disabled father, Henry E. Lee, is moving forward in the Nebraska District Court of Douglas County. The case, which centers on false statements made by officials at the Omaha Housing Authority (OHA) and a failed eviction attempt, is scheduled for a final ruling on July 9, 2025, at 10:00 AM in Courtroom 506 before the Honorable Judge Marlon Polk.

Mr. Lee and his wife, Toni Wiggins, allege that OHA engaged in a campaign of retaliation and misinformation after they filed multiple complaints about uninhabitable conditions at Underwood Tower Apartments—conditions including mold, rodent and bed bug infestations, lack of heat, and poor ventilation. These issues had persisted for over five years and were well-documented with OHA and other agencies.

On April 12, 2024, OHA staff, including CEO Joanie Poore Balk, made false statements to the Omaha Police Department, attempting to have Mr. Lee and Ms. Wiggins removed from the property through a “Ban and Bar” procedure. The attempt failed when officers found no probable cause. OHA also made false representations to Fair Housing authorities and deliberately obstructed the Reasonable Accommodation process that had already approved Mr. Lee as a live-in aide for his father on January 8, 2024.

Despite this approval, OHA issued a 3-Day Notice to Quit and filed an eviction complaint that excluded the actual tenant—Mr. Lee’s father—and named only Mr. Lee and Ms. Wiggins. On June 20, 2024, Judge Huber of the Douglas County Court ruled the eviction improper and found the court lacked jurisdiction.

“This case is about more than just an eviction—it’s about the abuse of power and the silencing of those who advocate for the vulnerable,” said Mr. Lee. “We stood up for my father and for every tenant who’s been ignored, and OHA tried to punish us with lies and legal intimidation. But we’re still standing.”

The lawsuit, filed under Nebraska Revised Statute § 76-1439 and the Fair Housing Act (42 U.S.C. § 3617), challenges OHA’s claim of immunity under the Political Subdivisions Tort Claims Act (PSTCA) and cites precedent from United States v. Hinesville Housing Authority and Osborn v. Kellogg, both of which affirm that retaliation and discriminatory interference with housing rights are unlawful and actionable.

Legal advocates say the case could set a precedent for protecting non-tenant advocates and live-in aides from retaliation by public housing authorities.

Hearing Details:
Date: July 9, 2025
Time: 10:00 AM
Location: Nebraska District Court of Douglas County, Courtroom 506
Judge: Hon. Marlon Polk
Contact:
Hasani Lee & Toni Wiggins
📞 (213) 602-6077
📧 mattearnscleaning69@yahoo.com

About

Founded by Hasani Lee and Thai Lee on November 1, 2023 in Omaha Nebraska.

Our mission is to inform tenants of their legal rights and to how to hold slum landlords accountable for their negligence in treating poor living conditions that are hazardous to the safety and wellbeing of the tenant(s).

We focus on educating the tenant(s) on a process that will get them the proper results. We teach our members the local, federal and state laws, statutes, ordinances, and legislation that will get results if followed properly. We try to give all our members an approach from the legal side that will help them build confidence in their approach and in the process.

We want all our members to be informed of their legal rights and how to properly prepare a case to take into court. We are not the group that focuses on teaching our members how to complain. We are the group that build our members up and teach them how to stand up for themselves legally when no one else would. Our passion is to motivate and educate! We have to teach tenants how to be legally prepared because no one is coming to save them.

Contact us at 213-602-6077 or via email. For donations please feel free to send all donations to: Hasani Lee, GENERAL DELIVERY, Omaha NE, 68108. Cash App is $MrandMsProSe.

In the News / Events

Underwood Tower tenants are turning to outside resources to address the living conditions in the Omaha Housing Authority property.

The meeting will focus on residents expressing their concerns, feedback from an attorney on tenant rights and directions on navigating ‘Rent Cafe’.

On April 19, the Douglas County Health Department inspected Chaunci Calloways home along with a private inspector. The results, now leaving her with lingering concerns.

Douglas County Health Department and private mold inspector take a trip to the Underwood Tower to evaluate the cleanliness of the complex after multiple residents complain.

Underwood Tower residents say their health is declining due to the living conditions. Now they are demanding answers and changes to their homes.

Some neighbors in Omaha Housing Authority properties say they’re stuck in dirty and substandard housing and are looking for ways to improve their homes.

Underwood Tower resident invites private mold inspector to evaluate what she says is an unlivable environment

Other Omaha tenant resources:

The source code of this website is in GitHub.