SECTION 7 TITLE 7.7 PROPERTY MANAGER RICK NEWMANN SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND CYBER BULLYING

 

WALLS OF SILENCE

SECTION 7 TITLE 7.7  RICK NEWMANN STRIKES AGAIN THREE MONTHS OF UNSOLICITED TEXT MESSGAGES

 

Coercion, Sexual Harassment, Grooming & Cyberbullying

Rick Newmann’s sexual harassment escalated into sexual advances and aggression in early April; when he made an unwelcome advance in the rental office during the first week of the month, I had decided to cut off all communication with him except to respond to official written notices. Yet, his behavior persisted, creating an unbearable, hostile and an Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress (IIED) environment in the property I rented as my home.

Subpart 1

Medical Impact Of Surveillance

Rick’s relentless surveillance, fixated on peering through my windows and blocking my view, monitoring my phone conversations by turning off his noise harassment machines and standing under my window just while I have private conversations over the phone or virtual therapy, then turning back on noise harassment machines so that I cannot have any peace or relaxation which does not involve him, such as: turning on but not using loud tools, vehicle, tractors so that I cannot hear television or music unless its on full volume as an attention seeking behaviors made the already unlivable conditions of the apartment even more suffocating—it has made my Stage 2 Hypertension, Chiari Malformation related muscle spasms, muscle aches, Chiari Malformation headaches, as well as executive function and short term memory harder to manage initially but after months completely debilitated me and eliminated my ability to maintain schedules, structure and effective functioning in Activities of Daily Life (ADLs).

On April 16, 2024 I had another sleepless night really feeling the heavy burden of RickNewmann smothering me and refusing to accept my demands to stop harassing me. I was holding back tears thinking about waking up the next days just to be secluded in this rural area harassed by the property manager. I decided to do the unthinkable which is close all the windows and curtains. Without natural light, the atmosphere inside became deeply depressing, exacerbated by filthy carpets full of dander, holes in the walls, and pervasive odors from the standing unsanitary animal waste.

Subpart 2

Medical Implications Of Closing Off Windows In Unsanitary Living Conditions: Animal Cruelty

The stench wasn’t confined to any one area—it permeated my entire unit. The neglect extended to the entire property, where animal bodily waste sat for weeks in common areas, seeping through walls, floors, and vents into neighboring spaces; specifically my unit because the main offender and laundry room (which the animals enjoy and litter boxes are often dumped into the laundry trash bin right outside the offenders apartment(s) door rather than the outside dumpsters then left for weeks at a time).

The property’s neglect and the scale of animal cruelty on the premises were appalling. The tenant responsible for the animals lived in unsanitary conditions that raised serious concerns for their mental health and well-being. 

Update: according to November 28, 2024 Incident is one of the victims enduring sexual contact from Newmann. In any urban jurisdiction like Minneapolis or Saint Paul, these circumstances would likely have warranted intervention by authorities, including the seizure of the animals and psychological evaluation of the owner. However, as a tenant, I had no legal authority to intervene; I am not social worker or judge. I was left to endure these conditions as I attempted to continue managing my own overwhelming challenges i.e. "mind my own business" and survive until I can relocate; by using fans, opened windows; natural light and odor control.

Subpart 3

Medical Implications Of Closing Off Curtains During Pest Infestation: Roaches And Fleas

Compounding the situation, the property became infested with pests—a situation that had been growing unchecked for three months by April. The infestation originated from Rick Newmann’s own apartment, which doubles as the rental office—allegedly. He had been moving furniture and items back and forth from his unit, the garage, and dumpsters. Instead of addressing the issue, Rick's priority was maintaining an illusion of responsibility to preserve his "male privilege" and "alpha" image. His refusal toacknowledge his responsibility or engage an exterminator allowed the infestation to worsen, spreading pests—particularly cockroaches—into other units in the building, reflecting a broader pattern: Rick hides his failures, blames others, and lashes out with aggression when his inadequacies are exposed. Knowing this both through observation and being the target of these outburst influenced the severity of the hostile living environment and is an intimidation factor that influences silence when a victim wants to scream out—you know he’s just going to attack you and worse and escalate whatever he’s was doing as he behaves like an untouchable tyrant,  so its easier just to tolerate him with silence and distances as a form of resistance wherever possible.  

Despite treating his own unit, the cockroaches—particularly cockroaches—have migrated to other apartments. Meanwhile, nothing else in the building is maintained. This negligence and unsanitary conditions, including weeks-old animal waste, created an ideal breeding ground for pests. Despite treating his own unit, Rick’s negligence in maintaining the rest of the building facilitated the infestation. My efforts to mitigate the issue, such as keeping my curtains open and lights on to deter pests, were thwarted by Rick’s incessant surveillance.

Subpart 4 An Escalation

Cyber Bullying On My Phone Once The Windows And Curtains Were Closed

To preserve some semblance of privacy, I eventually closed the curtains, but Rick retaliated by staging prolonged, disruptive gatherings outside my window. The next day, he retaliated to me “closing my own windows and curtains” by entertaining the neighborhood right outside my window—longer, louder, and closer than usual. When his “audience” finally left, he sent a text message to my private line, saying, “Hey, haven’t seen or heard from you.” This message wasn’t friendly or professional— This message was neither friendly nor professional but a coercive attempt to assert control and intimidate me into reopening the curtains. There was no professional or personal justification for him to contact me in this manner, making it a clear abuse of his role as property manager. We’ve never had a relationship or friendship, an exchange and nothing in our history would justify such personal contact as hey haven’t seen or heard from you—especially when you know you have seen me in passing, have seen me when I paid the rent, took out the trash—asked you to call an exterminator again. The  behavior was a new escalation, in the continuance of five months of harassment.

Over the next two months, Rick escalated his harassment by engaging in sexual cyberbullying. The property manager and maintenance man sent unsolicited and inappropriate text messages to my private number. These messages included depersonalizing and coercive “romantic pet names,” indicative of grooming behaviors intended to coerce me into a sexual relationship. By exploiting my personal contact information—provided solely for legitimate rental purposes—Rick violated my privacy and leveraged his position to intimidate and dehumanize me in my own home.

This calculated campaign of surveillance, harassment, and sexual cyberbullying constituted a severe abuse of power. It created a hostile and unsafe livingenvironment, infringing on my legal right to privacy, dignity, and the quiet enjoyment of my home. The scenario of a property manager sending unwanted sexual text messages to coerce a tenant aligns with the definition of sexual cyberbullying when framed within the elements outlined in the referenced Appendix. Here's how property manager Rick Newmann of Don Klyberg’s rental property behavior qualifies:

Subpart 5

Key Components Of Sexual Cyberbullying

1.Use of Electronic Media: Sexual cyberbullying is defined by actions that use electronic communication, such as text messages or social media platforms, to perpetrate sexually coercive or aggressive behavior. In this case, the property manager's repeated and unwarranted sexual texts meet this criterion.

2.Sexual Aggression and Coercion: The texts include sexually explicit content or language designed to intimidate, manipulate, or harass the tenant. Coercion, especially tied to the tenant's housing security, escalates this behavior from harassment to a clear form of sexual aggression.

3.Power Dynamics: A critical factor in this scenario is the inherent power imbalance between a property manager and a tenant. Leveraging control over housing to exert pressure on someone is both a legal and ethical violation. The sexual nature of the coercion amplifies the harm and its classification as cyberbullying.

4.Intent and Consequence: Intent is significant in defining sexual cyberbullying. Here, the unwanted texts aim to manipulate the tenant into compliance, using fear of housing instability as leverage. Consequences may include psychological distress, fear of eviction, or financial insecurity, all of which align with the documented effects of sexual cyberbullying.

Subpart 6

Legal And Social Implications

Cyberbullying Definitions in Law: The referenced study highlights that definitions of cyberbullying often depend on jurisdiction and specific actions. This behavior may fall under cyberstalking or electronic harassment laws in many regions, particularly when repeated messages aim to create a hostile or threatening environment.

Image-Based Sexual Abuse Comparison: While not involving explicit images, the coercive nature of these messages parallels image-based sexual abuse, wherein the digital platform facilitates the perpetration of harm. Both cases exploit digital communication to achieve dominance over the victim. Furthermore, property manager Rick Newmann did link Facebook image links which were never opened by the victim

Subpart 7

Additional Factors

A. Demographic Vulnerabilities: The tenant's potential lack of stable living conditions heightens their vulnerability. The property manager exploits this instability, demonstrating how social factors intertwine with digital abuse.

B. Risk and Protective Factors:

1.Risk: The tenant's dependency on housing creates an environment ripe for exploitation.

2.Protection: Legal awareness and access to supportive networks (e.g., tenant advocacy groups or legal aid) could mitigate this exploitation.

C. Prevention and Legal Action: Emphasizing educational interventions and robust legal frameworks against sexual cyberbullying is critical. Housing contexts, often overlooked, should be integrated into broader discussions of cyberbullying prevention.

Conclusion: This scenario exemplifies sexual cyberbullying, marked by electronic coercion, abuse of power, and significant emotional and societal harm. The inclusion of such cases in the novel's exploration of sexual cyberbullying underscores its nuanced and pervasive nature. Addressing these behaviors demands a combination of public awareness, strengthened legal responses, and targeted prevention strategies.

Subpart 8

Policy

Rick Newmann's actions, as described, constitute violations of several state and federal laws that protect your rights as a tenant, an individual with a disability, and a member of a protected class. Below is a breakdown of your legal rights and the potential violations:

(A) Violation of Right to Privacy (Legal Basis)

Minn. Stat. § 504B.211 – Minnesota law prohibits a landlord or property manager from entering a tenant's rental unit without reasonable notice and legitimate purpose. Persistent surveillance, peering into windows, and sending unsolicited personal messages constitute harassment and a breach of your reasonable expectation of privacy.

Federal Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. § 552a) – Although this law applies mainly to federal agencies, the misuse of personal information provided for housing purposes, such as your phone number, may breach common-law privacy protections or other applicable state statutes.

Violation: Rick Newmann's intrusive behavior (e.g., peering through windows and unsolicited contact using my private phone number) is a direct breach of my legal right to privacy under Minnesota law, as well as broader principles of privacy protected by state and federal law.

(B) Violation Of Anti-Discrimination Protections (Legal Basis)

Fair Housing Act (FHA) (42 U.S.C. §§ 3601-3619): The FHA prohibits discrimination in housing on the basis of race, disability, and gender. Harassment that creates a hostile living environment, especially when tied to a tenant’s protected status (e.g., race or gender), is a form of housing discrimination.

Minnesota Human Rights Act (MHRA) (Minn. Stat. § 363A.09) – Prohibits discrimination and harassment in housing based on race, disability, and sex. The MHRA explicitly covers harassment by landlords or property managers that interferes with a tenant's right to enjoy their rental property.

Violation: Newmann’s harassment, intimidation, and refusal to address reasonable accommodation concerns (e.g., pest control and safe housing conditions) have created a hostile environment based on race, disability, and gender, in violation of both the FHA and MHRA.

(C) Violation of Disability Rights (Legal Basis)

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) (42 U.S.C. § 12101 et seq.) – The ADA requires reasonable accommodations to ensure individuals with disabilities have equal access to housing.

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. § 794) – Prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in programs receiving federal assistance, which may include housing programs.

Minn. Stat. § 363A.10 – Requires landlords to make reasonable accommodations for tenants with disabilities.

Violation: The property owner and onsite manager’s failure to address severe living conditions—such as infestation, odors from animal neglect, and refusal to contact exterminators—constitutes a refusal to provide reasonable accommodations for my disability. This neglect exacerbates my physical and mental health, violating federal and state disability rights laws.

(D) Violation of Right to Safe and Habitable Housing (Legal Basis)

Minn. Stat. § 504B.161 – Imposes a duty on landlords to ensure that rental properties are fit for habitation and meet basic safety and health standards. Persistent infestations, pervasive odors, and untreated maintenance issues breach this covenant.

Violation: By failing to address the infestation, animal waste, and overall unsafe conditions, Newmann and the property owner have violated the implied warranty of habitability, leaving me to endure unsafe and unsanitary living conditions.

(E) Violation of Protections Against Retaliation (Legal Basis)

Minn. Stat. § 504B.441 – Prohibits landlords from retaliating against tenants who report code violations or exercise their legal rights.

Violation: Newmann’s escalating harassment and intimidation, including unsolicited messages and coercion, represent retaliatory actions against me for asserting my rights as a tenant and reporting property issues.

(F)  Violation of Sexual Harassment Protections (Legal Basis)

Fair Housing Act – Sexual harassment that creates a hostile housing environment is a form of discrimination under the FHA.

Minn. Stat. § 363A.10 – Covers sexual harassment in housing, which includes unwelcome sexual advances or conduct that interferes with a tenant's housing rights.

Violation: Newmann’s repeated sexual harassment, including unsolicited contact and coercive behavior, violates my rights under the FHA and the MHRA. These actions constitute a hostile housing environment that interferes with my right to enjoy my rental unit.

(G) Breach of Fiduciary Duty and Abuse of Position (Legal Basis)

Minnesota common law establishes that property managers have a duty to act in good faith and protect tenants’ interests.

Violation: Using my private contact information for personal harassment, failing to address health and safety concerns, and prioritizing his own image over tenant welfare represent breaches of fiduciary duty and abuse of his position as a property manager.

Summary of Violations

Rick Newmann’s actions infringe upon your rights under Minnesota law, including your right to privacy, safe and habitable housing, and protections from discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. Additionally, his conduct breaches federal laws, such as the Fair Housing Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act, that protect your rights as a Black, disabled woman. These violations demand accountability through legal action or administrative remedies.

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