Case Background
Jessica Langston filed this federal lawsuit on January 19, 2024, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas, Northern Division. She sued Dennis Coggins, who served as the mayor of Hoxie, Arkansas, and his company Coggins Rental LLC. Coggins owned residential rental properties in Hoxie, many through Coggins Rental LLC. Langston rented a home owned by Coggins Rental LLC in Hoxie. All parties resided in Lawrence County, where the relevant events occurred. The Court held federal-question jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. 1331 based on the Fair Housing Act claim and supplemental jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. 1367 over the state-law claims. The Defendants filed their answer on February 8, 2024. The jury returned its verdict on April 16, 2026, and Judge Lee P. Rudofsky entered judgment the next day.
Cause
Langston alleged housing discrimination based on sex under the federal Fair Housing Act, 42 U.S.C. 3601 et seq. The complaint stated that Coggins sexually harassed Langston after renting her a home and then retaliated when she refused his sexual demands. The lawsuit raised Fair Housing Act claims for quid pro quo sexual harassment, hostile environment sexual harassment, retaliation, and discriminatory statements. It also included state-law claims of negligence, assault, battery, and trespass.
Injury
Langston worked at a donut shop that Coggins frequented. She was trying to leave an abusive relationship and needed housing for herself and her young son. She confided in Coggins, hoping he could help. Coggins called her the same night and asked her to meet him at an unfinished property. When she arrived, he forced her into a prolonged hug and made comments about wanting sex. Langston refused and left without securing the unit. After she obtained a HUD housing voucher and could not find other landlords to accept it, she contacted Coggins again. He again forced her into a hug and offered sex. She declined but, desperate to leave her abusive situation, accepted the rental and moved in with her son.
Once she became his tenant, Coggins escalated the harassment. He repeatedly forced her into unwanted hugs and during one encounter grabbed her buttocks. In nearly every interaction, he asked for sex in exchange for covering her rent and bills. He told her he would take care of her and her son if she agreed to “meet his needs.” He leveraged her son, saying things like “You don’t want your son to go without.” He once showed up unannounced with $100 in cash wanting sex in return. He also visited her apartment unannounced and called at times that made her feel she was being watched. Langston changed her locks and sometimes asked a friend to stay over for safety.
After about six months of near-daily requests, Langston firmly refused and demanded he stop. Coggins then retaliated: he refused to address apartment issues, had her water shut off, and spoke negatively about her to neighbors. A neighbor told Langston that Coggins wanted to force her out. The complaint stated the harassment and retaliation caused Langston mental and emotional distress giving rise to related bodily injury.
Damages Sought
Langston sought compensatory damages, punitive damages, attorneys’ fees and costs, pre- and post-judgment interest, declaratory relief, and all other relief the Court found just.
Key Arguments and Proceedings
Legal Representation
Plaintiff: Jessica Langston
· Counsel for Plaintiff: David Slade | Thomas R. Kayes | Gianna Gizzi |
Defendants: Dennis Coggins | Coggins Rental LLC
· Counsel for Defendants: Randel K. Miller
Key Arguments or Remarks by Counsel
Langston’s complaint framed this as a case in which a landlord who also held political power as mayor exploited the landlord-tenant relationship to sexually harass a vulnerable tenant. Her counsel argued that Coggins used his position to repeatedly pressure Langston for sex, leveraged her young son to increase that pressure, and retaliated when she firmly refused. The complaint noted that Langston feared retaliation because Coggins, as mayor, wielded significant power in Hoxie.
Claims
Fair Housing Act – Quid Pro Quo Sexual Harassment: Alleged Coggins conditioned housing benefits on submission to sexual demands, violating 42 U.S.C. 3604(b), § 3604(c), and 24 C.F.R. 100.600(a)(1).
Fair Housing Act – Hostile Environment Sexual Harassment: Alleged Coggins created a hostile housing environment based on sex, violating 42 U.S.C. 3604(b), § 3604(c), and 24 C.F.R. 100.600(a)(2).
Fair Housing Act – Retaliation: Alleged retaliation for refusing sexual harassment, violating 42 U.S.C. 3604(b), 3617, and 24 C.F.R. 100.65(b).
Negligence: Alleged Coggins Rental LLC failed to train, supervise, and discipline Coggins.
Assault and Battery: Alleged Coggins made offensive, unconsented physical contact including forced hugs and grabbing Langston’s buttocks.
Trespass: Alleged Coggins entered Langston’s home without lawful authority or consent.
Defense
The Defendant’s admitted Coggins was the mayor and owned rental properties in Hoxie, and admitted the landlord-tenant relationship with Langston. They also admitted Langston worked at a donut shop Coggins frequented and admitted the rental unit was owned by Coggins Rental LLC. Beyond those admissions, they denied virtually all of the complaint’s allegations. They denied all claims of sexual harassment, assault, battery, trespass, and retaliation. They specifically asserted that Langston was already residing in one of Coggins’s units when she obtained her HUD voucher. They claimed Langston’s water was shut off because she did not pay her water bill, not as an act of retaliation. The Defendants accused Langston of attempting to extort money from Coggins by threatening to make false allegations. They admitted Coggins gave Langston money to buy a Christmas present for her son but stated he did the same for many other people in need and denied any sexual motive behind the gift. The defense raised affirmative defenses of statute of limitations, laches, and fraud. The Defendants demanded a jury trial on all issues and reserved the right to file further pleadings, including a counterclaim.
Jury Verdict
The jury returned its verdict on April 16, 2026. The verdict form contained nine questions covering each claim and, where applicable, damages.
On the quid pro quo sexual harassment claims, the jury found in favor of the Defendants on both Question 1 (against Coggins) and Question 2 (against Coggins Rental LLC). The jury concluded Coggins did not condition housing benefits on Langston’s submission to sexual demands.
On the hostile environment sexual harassment claims, the jury found in favor of Langston on both Question 3 (against Coggins) and Question 4 (against Coggins Rental LLC). The jury determined Coggins created a hostile living environment through his persistent sexual advances and conduct.
On the retaliation claims, the jury found in favor of the Defendants on both Question 5 (against Coggins) and Question 6 (against Coggins Rental LLC).
On damages, the jury unanimously awarded Langston $100,000 in compensatory damages (Question 7). The jury found that Coggins’s unlawful conduct was done with malice or reckless indifference to Langston’s rights (Question 8) and awarded an additional $200,000 in punitive damages against Coggins personally (Question 9).
Judge Lee P. Rudofsky entered judgment on April 17, 2026, consistent with the jury’s verdict. The judgment stated that Dennis Coggins and Coggins Rental LLC are jointly and severally liable to Langston for $100,000 in compensatory damages on the hostile environment sexual harassment claims under the federal Fair Housing Act. In addition to this $100,000, Dennis Coggins alone not Coggins Rental LLC — was held liable to Langston for another $200,000 in punitive damages. Post-judgment interest applies as set out in 28 U.S.C. 1961. The Court entered judgment in favor of Dennis Coggins and Coggins Rental LLC on all other claims in the case, including the quid pro quo sexual harassment, retaliation, negligence, assault, battery, and trespass claims. The total monetary award to Jessica Langston amounts to $300,000.
Court documents are available upon request at [email protected]
