(09/12/06) NORTH BELLMORE - One family is suing their one-time landlord for $1 million after, they claim, being wrongfully evicted because of their race.

Stephanie and Stefan Dukes had moved most of their belongings into a two-family house in a predominately white North Bellmore neighborhood in November 2002. The Dukes say that landlord William Ditmars, a Nassau County police officer, then said he could not rent to them because of family issues. Stefan Duke says Ditmars told him that the neighbors began complaining that the Dukes, a black couple, would be using the backyard and pool. Ditmars now faces a lawsuit of $1 million for wrongfully evicting and discriminating against the Dukes.

The Dukes currently reside in Freeport and their trial begins Thursday.