$250K settlement reached in case involving late Springfield landlord

The federal government has reached a settlement in a case involving sexual harassment allegations against a late Springfield landlord.

The settlement named defendant Jimmie Bell, as well as Fourth Bell LLC and the trustee of Second Bell Trust. Bell died in February 2025, and his son, Mark Bell, was substituted as his successor defendant, according to a news release from the Justice Department.

Through the settlement, the defendants have been ordered to pay $250,000 to former tenants who were allegedly harmed by Jimmie Bell’s harassment, according to the release. Bell allegedly made unwelcome sexual comments, requested sexual acts in exchange for excusing late or unpaid rent, and retaliated against tenants who refused his sexual advances.

“No tenant should ever be forced to choose between their safety and keeping a roof over their head,” said R. Matthew Price, U.S. attorney for the Western District of Missouri, in the release. “Exploiting power for sexual coercion and retaliation is not only immoral, but it’s also illegal."

In addition to the six-figure settlement figure, the release states that defendants must make good faith efforts to have retaliatory evictions removed from public court records and credit reports; cease ongoing efforts to obtain payments from tenants who faced retaliatory evictions; and conduct training to prevent future discrimination.