Trigger Warning: The following article discusses sexual assault.
Two anonymous plaintiffs have filed civil lawsuits against Article Student Living, a student housing company that operates the ICON Apartment buildings in Isla Vista, as well as supervisors employed there. Both plaintiffs were students attending UC Santa Barbara and also resided in the complex during the alleged incidents.
Two anonymous plaintiffs have filed civil lawsuits against Article Student Living, a company that operates the ICON Apartment buildings in I.V. Wesley Haver / Daily Nexus
The plaintiffs allege harassment, discrimination and sexual assaults by supervisors employed at ICON Apartments. Both cases were submitted to the Superior Court of California for the County of Santa Barbara and are requesting jury trials.
The first lawsuit was filed on Feb. 25 and names Article Student Living, Brett Williams — a property manager and supervisor at ICON Apartments — as well as other unidentified individuals as defendants.
According to the first lawsuit, the first plaintiff was employed by Article Student Living as a Community Assistant starting in April 2023 and resigned from her position in November 2024. She alleges that Williams made various inappropriate advances and comments towards her throughout her period of employment — including trying to kiss her without consent — even after she made it clear that “she wanted their relationship to be purely professional.”
She also alleges that Williams would “routinely” enter her and her coworker’s apartments without consent with his universal key. The plaintiff was also aware that Williams “frequently did this to one of her co-workers and coerced her into having sexual encounters with him.”
According to the lawsuit, the plaintiff and five other female employees submitted a complaint to Human Resources in September 2023. Additionally, it states that Article Student Living was made aware of William’s “history of misconduct,” as he had been terminated from his previous place of employment due to “harassment allegations against him,” but continued to employ him, thereby “allowing him” to harass the plaintiffs.
The second lawsuit was filed on Oct. 20 and names Article Student Living, Williams and Javier Romero — a leasing manager and supervisor at ICON Apartments — as well as other unidentified individuals as defendants.
According to the second lawsuit, the second plaintiff was employed by Article Student Living as a Community Assistant starting in August 2023 and resigned from her position in December 2023.
The plaintiff alleges that throughout the course of her employment, Williams would exhibit inappropriate and unwanted behavior towards her, including discussing “his sex life,” asking her for “nude photos” and telling her that “he masturbated to her after her interview.” He continued this sexual harassment despite her request to maintain a professional relationship.
According to the lawsuit, Williams would “let himself into [the plaintiff’s] room while she was changing,” and sexually assaulted her numerous times.
The plaintiff alleges that Williams recorded her “performing oral sex on him and sent it to another male employee” without consent. After, Romero entered the room and “watched [the plaintiff] perform oral sex” on Williams. The plaintiff alleges that Williams then pressured her into performing a sexual act on Romero and that both men assaulted her by touching her without consent.
In addition, she alleges that Williams physically restrained her during the assault and later attempted anal sex despite her objections. The plaintiff told Williams afterward that she was extremely distressed by what had occurred.
According to the filing, the plaintiff also alleges that she entered Romero’s apartment to tell “him that she felt coerced into having sex with Defendant Williams,” and he “proceeded to kiss [the plaintiff], throw her on his bed, sexually assault her, and told her not to tell anyone about it.”
Both lawsuits allege that beyond sexual assaults and harassment, Williams made racially discriminatory comments towards the plaintiffs and other employees. According to the filing, Williams allegedly made racially degrading comments about the plaintiffs and would also use various racial slurs when referring to employees and other individuals.
The lawsuits also state that because of the defendants’ misconduct, the plaintiffs “suffered severe emotional distress” and other psychological issues like severe anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Both plaintiffs ultimately resigned from their positions, alleging that their working conditions were “so intolerable” due to harassment based on race and sex that “a reasonable person” in their positions would have no choice but to resign.
Article Student Living did not respond to the Nexus’s request for comment.
A version of this article appeared on p. 3 of the Nov. 20 print edition of the Daily Nexus.
