Case: United States v. American Institute of Real Estate Appraisers

1:76-01448 | U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois

Filed Date: April 16, 1976

Closed Date: Dec. 21, 1978

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Case Summary

The Department of Justice filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on April 16, 1976, against four Defendants the American Institute of Real Estate Appraisers, the Society of Real Estate Appraisers, the United States League of Savings Associations, and the Mortgage Bankers Association of America seeking injunctive and declaratory relief for alleged violations of the Fair Housing Act, 42 U.S.C. 3601-3619. The DOJ alleged that the four Defendant-organizations ha…

The Department of Justice filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on April 16, 1976, against four Defendants the American Institute of Real Estate Appraisers, the Society of Real Estate Appraisers, the United States League of Savings Associations, and the Mortgage Bankers Association of America seeking injunctive and declaratory relief for alleged violations of the Fair Housing Act, 42 U.S.C. 3601-3619. The DOJ alleged that the four Defendant-organizations had engaged in unlawful discriminatory practices by promulgating standards which had caused appraisers and lenders to treat race and national origin as negative factors in determining the value of dwellings and in evaluating the soundness of home loans, and by failing to take adequate steps to correct the continuing effect of past discrimination and ensure non-discrimination by appraisers and lenders whose practices are subject to the influence or authority of the four organizations. The parties eventually entered into a settlement agreement, which was approved by U.S. District Court Judge George N. Leighton. United States v. American Institute of Real Estate Appraisers, 442 F. Supp. 1072 (N.D. Ill. 1977).

After 72 members of the Defendant-organizations filed a motion to intervene to block implementation of the suit, Judge Leighton allowed one organization member to intervene permissively pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. Proc. 24(b) but nonetheless approved the settlement agreement. United States v. American Institute of Real Estate Appraisers, 442 F. Supp. 1072 (N.D. Ill. 1977). The Seventh Circuit rejected the intervener's challenge to the settlement agreement on December 21, 1978. United States v. American Institute of Real Estate Appraisers, 590 F.2d 242 (7th Cir. 1978).

Summary Authors

Andrew Nash (6/2/2008)

People


Judge(s)

Castle, Latham (Illinois)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Bressler, Harold J. (Illinois)

Attorney for Defendant

Covey, Frank M. Jr. (Illinois)

Hanson, John H. Jr. (Illinois)

Expert/Monitor/Master/Other

Cooper, Marc (Florida)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

1:76-01448

Memorandum

United States v. The American Institute of Real Estate Appraisers of the National Association of Realtors

Nov. 23, 1977

Nov. 23, 1977

Order/Opinion

78-01133

[Opinion]

United States v. The American Institute of Real Estate Appraisers of the National Association of Realtors

U. S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit

Dec. 21, 1978

Dec. 21, 1978

Order/Opinion

Docket

Last updated Jan. 27, 2024, 3:15 a.m.

Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.

Case Details

State / Territory: Illinois

Case Type(s):

Fair Housing/Lending/Insurance

Key Dates

Filing Date: April 16, 1976

Closing Date: Dec. 21, 1978

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

The Department of Justice filing on behalf of members of certain races and persons with certain national origins

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

American Institute of Real Estate Appraisers (Chicago), Private Entity/Person

Case Details

Causes of Action:

Fair Housing Act/Fair Housing Amendments Act (FHAA), 42 U.S.C. §§ 3601 et seq.

Available Documents:

Any published opinion

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff

Nature of Relief:

Unknown

Source of Relief:

Settlement

Form of Settlement:

Private Settlement Agreement

Issues

Discrimination-area:

Housing Sales/Rental

Lending

Discrimination-basis:

National origin discrimination

Race discrimination

Race:

Race, unspecified