Cases and Settlements

Management Company Settles Claim of Discrimination Against Non-English Speakers

January 24, 2013    

In January 2013, HUD announced that a Virginia property management company agreed to pay $82,500 to settle allegations that it refused to allow an Hispanic woman to apply for an apartment because she didn’t speak fluent English.

Housing Authority Settles Complaint Involving Deaf Resident

December 19, 2012    

In early December, HUD announced that the Houston Housing Authority agreed to settle allegations of disability discrimination for initially refusing a deaf resident’s requests to have a sign language interpreter present at a hearing to determine her eligibility to remain in HUD’s...

Resident Gets Another Chance to Fight Eviction for Hoarding

December 19, 2012    

Last month, a state court in New York overturned a ruling that would have forced a resident to move out because of an alleged hoarding problem. The community, which received a project-based Section 8 subsidy, filed the case, but proceedings were delayed several times to give the resident more...

N.M. Landlord Accused of Denying Disabled Tenant’s Accessibility Requests

November 15, 2012    

HUD recently charged a rental housing owner in New Mexico with unlawfully refusing to grant reasonable modification requests to a resident with a disability. The Fair Housing Act prohibits landlords from refusing to let tenants, at their own expense, make reasonable modifications to a rental...

Florida HOA Accused of Discriminating Against Families with Children

November 15, 2012    

The Justice Department recently sued a Florida homeowners association and its former management company, accusing them of discriminating against families with children by imposing overly restrictive occupancy standards at the 249-townhome community. The lawsuit also alleges that the defendants...

Real Estate Group to Pay $12K for Alleged Discrimination Against Refugees

October 25, 2012    

HUD recently announced that it reached a settlement with a Pennsylvania community for allegedly discriminating against Burmese refugee families because of their national origin.

NY Community to Pay $75K to Settle Race Discrimination Case

October 23, 2012    

Last week, the owners, managers, and superintendent of a 72-unit community in Riverdale, N.Y., agreed to a $75,000 settlement to resolve allegations of discrimination against African-American apartment seekers in violation of the Fair Housing Act, according to an announcement the United States...

California Landlord Settles Sexual Harassment Suit for $2.13M

September 26, 2012    

The owner and manager of dozens of residential rental properties in Bakersfield, Calif., recently agreed to pay more than $2 million to settle allegations that he sexually harassed female prospects and residents. This represents the largest monetary settlement ever agreed to in a sexual...

Florida HOA Accused of Discriminating Against Family with Six Children

September 26, 2012    

HUD recently charged a Florida homeowners association (HOA) and its former management company with violating the Fair Housing Act by subjecting a family to different rental terms and conditions because they have six children.

New Hampshire Broker Charged with Discriminating Against Families with Children

September 26, 2012    

HUD recently charged a New Hampshire real estate agent and his company with illegally discriminating against families with children. Under the Fair Housing Act, it’s unlawful to deny housing because someone has children or to make statements that indicate a limitation on renting to someone...

DOJ Gets Record $10.5M Settlement in Housing Discrimination Case

August 22, 2012    

Earlier this summer, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced its largest-ever disability-based housing discrimination settlement, which resolves allegations that a Texas-based developer and affiliated entities discriminated on the basis of disability in the design and construction of...

Massachusetts Sues Firm for Refusing Housing to Section 8 Voucher Holder

August 22, 2012    

A Boston-based real estate management company, its property manager, and a multifamily housing owner have been sued for violating the state’s antidiscrimination law for allegedly refusing to rent to a recipient of a federal housing subsidy, Attorney General Martha Coakley announced earlier...