Cases and Settlements

Is It Legal to Require Applicants to Produce Their Children’s Report Cards?

June 26, 2014    

No, says the Fair Housing Center of the Greater Palm Beaches, Inc., which recently sued two Florida homeowner associations and two property management companies for discrimination on the basis of familial status.

Landlords Pay $23K to Settle Credit Reporting Violations, Discrimination Claims

June 26, 2014    

Two Massachusetts property owners have agreed to pay $23,000 to resolve allegations of housing discrimination and credit reporting violations, according to a recent announcement by Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley.

N.Y. Community Pays $165K to Settle Race Discrimination Claims

June 26, 2014    

The owner and property manager of a rental community on Long Island, N.Y., recently agreed to pay $165,000 to settle a fair housing case alleging racial discrimination, according to an announcement by ERASE Racism, a New-York based fair housing advocacy group.

Seattle Developers Settle Fair Housing Case

June 26, 2014    

The owner, builder, architect, and manager of a Seattle community recently agreed to a settlement with HUD to resolve allegations of disability discrimination by failing to design and construct the 56-unit complex in a way that meets the accessibility requirements of the Fair Housing Act (FHA...

National Real Estate Firm Settles Claims of Discrimination Against Deaf Prospects

May 29, 2014    

A national real estate company, which controls more than 64,000 units in 15 states, recently agreed to pay $175,000 to settle allegations that its communities in Texas and Georgia denied housing to deaf people. HUD announced that it negotiated the agreement between the Greensboro, N.C.-based...

Community to Build Playground to Resolve Discrimination Complaint

May 29, 2014    

A Colorado community has agreed to build a $10,000 accessible playground as part of a settlement with HUD to resolve allegations of housing discrimination by refusing to allow children to play outside.

Last fall, HUD filed the complaint, alleging that the community unfairly restricted the...

NYC Developer Accused of Inaccessible Design & Construction

April 25, 2014    

Federal officials recently filed suit against a major real estate developer based in New York City for allegedly developing rental apartment buildings that are inaccessible to persons with disabilities.

Florida Community Settles Complaint by Alleged Domestic Violence Survivor

April 25, 2014    

A Florida community recently settled a fair housing complaint filed by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of an alleged domestic violence survivor. According to the complaint, the community refused to rent to the woman unless she provided her children's Social Security numbers,...

New Orleans Settles Housing Discrimination Lawsuit

April 25, 2014    

Earlier this week, the Justice Department announced court approval of its settlement with the city of New Orleans regarding a housing discrimination lawsuit.

Under the settlement, the city agreed to permit the conversion of a former nursing home into 40 units of affordable housing. Half...

SoCal Community Settles Harassment Complaints

March 20, 2014    

The owners and managers of a 49-unit community in Santa Monica, Calif., recently agreed to settle complaints filed by a group of disabled residents with Section 8 vouchers. In complaints to city officials and the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles (LAFLA), the residents accused the community of...

Retirement Community Faulted for Policy on Mobility Devices

February 26, 2014    

A Virginia-based retirement community is facing a HUD complaint alleging that its policies on the use of motorized mobility devices amounts to illegal housing discrimination against people with physical disabilities.

Landlord Accused of Discriminating Against Teenager’s Mom

February 26, 2014    

A Michigan landlord recently agreed to settle a discrimination claim based on familial status for allegedly denying housing to the mother of a teenager.

The complaint, filed with the assistance of the Fair Housing Center of Southwest Michigan, claimed that the landlord showed the prospect...