Filed Date: Oct. 28, 2011
Closed Date: 2014
Clearinghouse coding complete
On October 28, 2011, the United States filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Western District, under the Fair Housing Act, 42 U.S.C. §§3601-3631, against the owner of a single-family rental home located in Bangor, Wisconsin. The suit was on behalf of a complainant who was a single mother with a minor child; the U.S. alleged--and the defendant conceded-- that the Defendant refused to rent the home to the complainant because of her sex and familial status. The parties moved for entry of a Consent Decree simultaneously with filing the Complaint, in a filing in which the defendant agreed that the alleged conduct had occurred and was unlawful.
The Court (Judge James Robart) approved that three-year consent decree in November 2011. In addition to general prohibitions against discrimination on the basis of sex and familial status, record-keeping and reporting requirements, the Decree requires defendants to declare that they are committed to "Equal Housing Opportunity" in all advertising and on leases; and to engage in EHO training. Defendants also agreed to pay the Complainants $15,000, and to issue a formal, written apology.
The decree terminated in 2014, and the case is now closed.
Summary Authors
Clearinghouse (10/20/2012)
Conley, William Martin (Wisconsin)
Crocker, Stephen L. (Wisconsin)
Oswald, Barbara L. (Wisconsin)
Vaudreuil, John W. (Wisconsin)
Radcliffe, Richard (Wisconsin)
Conley, William Martin (Wisconsin)
Crocker, Stephen L. (Wisconsin)
Last updated Feb. 22, 2024, 3:09 a.m.
State / Territory: Wisconsin
Case Type(s):
Fair Housing/Lending/Insurance
Special Collection(s):
Key Dates
Filing Date: Oct. 28, 2011
Closing Date: 2014
Case Ongoing: No
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
United States
Plaintiff Type(s):
U.S. Dept of Justice plaintiff
Attorney Organizations:
U.S. Dept. of Justice Civil Rights Division
Public Interest Lawyer: Yes
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
Dovenberg Investments, LLC (Bangor), Private Entity/Person
Defendant Type(s):
Single family housing provider
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Fair Housing Act/Fair Housing Amendments Act (FHAA), 42 U.S.C. §§ 3601 et seq.
Available Documents:
Injunctive (or Injunctive-like) Relief
Outcome
Prevailing Party: Plaintiff
Nature of Relief:
Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement
Source of Relief:
Form of Settlement:
Court Approved Settlement or Consent Decree
Amount Defendant Pays: 15,000
Order Duration: 2011 - 2014
Content of Injunction:
Develop anti-discrimination policy
Provide antidiscrimination training
Issues
General:
Discrimination-area:
Discrimination-basis:
Affected Sex or Gender: