Case: Taylor v. Housing Authority of New Haven

3:08-cv-00557 | U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut

Filed Date: April 15, 2008

Closed Date: 2010

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

On April 15, 2008, disabled participants in New Haven's Housing Choice Voucher ("Section 8") program filed a class action complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut, New Haven Division against the Housing Authority of the City of New Haven ("HANH") and a group of HANH officials, alleging that Defendants discriminated against them in administering the Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988 (the "FHAA"), 42 U.S.C. § 3604(f); § 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.…

On April 15, 2008, disabled participants in New Haven's Housing Choice Voucher ("Section 8") program filed a class action complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut, New Haven Division against the Housing Authority of the City of New Haven ("HANH") and a group of HANH officials, alleging that Defendants discriminated against them in administering the Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988 (the "FHAA"), 42 U.S.C. § 3604(f); § 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. § 794; and regulations promulgated thereunder, 24 C.F.R. §§ 8.28, 100.204. Plaintiffs asked the court for injunctive relief, declaratory judgment, compensatory damages, attorney's fees, and costs.

On August 07, 2008, Plaintiffs moved to certify a class defined as "[a]ll current and future participants in the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program who, because of the disabilities and/or handicaps of themselves or someone in their household, need assistance in searching for suitable dwellings to lease under the program." On March 09, 2009, the Court ( Judge Janet Bond Arterton) granted the class certification.

After a nine-day bench trial, the District Court entered judgment on March 29, 2010, finding in favor of Defendants on all claims and vacating its earlier class certification order. The District Court concluded that Plaintiffs failed to prove Defendants' liability on any of the counts. The Court also held that Plaintffs have no private right of action to enforce enforce certain regulations of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development ("HUD"). Finally, the Court found insufficient evidence that Defendants discriminated against the three named Plaintiffs, or that Defendants' conduct toward them deprived them of meaningful access to the benefits of the Section 8 Program. The detailed facts and reasoning are fully set forth in the District Court's Memorandum of Decision on March 29, 2010.

Plaintiffs appealed to the Second Circuit. On May 04, 2011, the Court of Appeals affirmed the District Court's decision in a reported opinion.

Summary Authors

Xin Chen (5/23/2011)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/4955768/parties/taylor-v-new-haven-housing-authority/


Judge(s)

Arterton, Janet Bond (Connecticut)

Chin, Denny (New York)

Fitzsimmons, Holly B. (Connecticut)

Kearse, Amalya Lyle (New York)

Miner, Roger Jeffrey (New York)

Attorney for Plaintiff
Attorney for Defendant
Judge(s)

Arterton, Janet Bond (Connecticut)

Chin, Denny (New York)

Fitzsimmons, Holly B. (Connecticut)

Kearse, Amalya Lyle (New York)

Miner, Roger Jeffrey (New York)

Attorney for Plaintiff

show all people

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

3:08-cv-00557

Docket

Jan. 11, 2011

Jan. 11, 2011

Docket
3

3:08-cv-00557

Complaint

April 15, 2008

April 15, 2008

Complaint
12

3:08-cv-00557

Plaintiffs' Memorandum in Support of Motion for Preliminary Injunctive Relief and Emergency Motion for Partial Summary Judgment

April 22, 2008

April 22, 2008

Pleading / Motion / Brief
47

3:08-cv-00557

Plaintiffs' Memorandum in Support of Motion for Class Certification

Aug. 7, 2008

Aug. 7, 2008

Pleading / Motion / Brief
77

3:08-cv-00557

Amended Complaint

Nov. 14, 2008

Nov. 14, 2008

Complaint
81

3:08-cv-00557

Second Amended Complaint

Nov. 19, 2008

Nov. 19, 2008

Complaint
108

3:08-cv-00557

Ruling on Plaintiffs' Motion for Class Certification [...]

March 10, 2009

March 10, 2009

Order/Opinion

257 F.R.D. 257

240

3:08-cv-00557

Memorandum of Decision

March 29, 2010

March 29, 2010

Order/Opinion

267 F.R.D. 267

247

3:08-cv-00557

Plaintiffs' Memorandum in Support of Motion for Additional Findings

April 7, 2010

April 7, 2010

Pleading / Motion / Brief
248

3:08-cv-00557

Order on Planitiffs' Motion for Additional Findings

July 14, 2010

July 14, 2010

Order/Opinion

2010 WL 2010

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/4955768/taylor-v-new-haven-housing-authority/

Last updated Jan. 31, 2024, 3:06 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
74

ORDER setting forth schedule; granting absent opposition 63 Plaintiffs' Motion to Amend Proposed Class Definition; denying without prejudice to renew 64 Plaintiffs' Motion to Modify Protective Order to Notify Putative Class Members; and denying as moot on the representation of Defendants' counsel regarding electronic discovery 68 Plaintiffs' Motion to Compel. Signed by Judge Janet Bond Arterton on 11/10/2008. (Rajendra, R.)

Nov. 10, 2008

Nov. 10, 2008

RECAP
108

ORDER granting 46 Motion to Certify Class; denying 83 Motion to Intervene; granting 101 Motion to Appoint Counsel Appointed Jennifer C. Vickery for Karl Hunter and Rebecca Taylor as Class Counsel. Signed by Judge Janet Bond Arterton on 3/9/09. (Torday, B.)

March 10, 2009

March 10, 2009

RECAP
138

ORDER granting 113 Motion to Compel; denying 125 Motion to Stay. Signed by Judge Holly B. Fitzsimmons on 6/10/09. (Milligan, C.)

June 10, 2009

June 10, 2009

RECAP
240

MEMORANDUM OF DECISION: For the reasons set forth herein, the Court VACATES its 108 Order Certifying a Class; the Court concludes that, in administering the Section 8 Program and providing benefits of that program to Plaintiffs, Defendants did not violate the Fair Housing Act, the Fair Housing Act Amendments, or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act; and the Court finds in favor of Defendants on all of Plaintiffs' claims. Signed by Judge Janet Bond Arterton on 3/29/2010. (Rajendra, R.)

March 29, 2010

March 29, 2010

RECAP
248

ORDER denying 245 Motion to Alter Judgment. Signed by Judge Janet Bond Arterton on 7/14/10. (Torday, B.)

July 14, 2010

July 14, 2010

RECAP

Case Details

State / Territory: Connecticut

Case Type(s):

Public Housing

Special Collection(s):

Multi-LexSum (in sample)

Key Dates

Filing Date: April 15, 2008

Closing Date: 2010

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

class of all current and future participants in the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program who, because of disabilities of themselves or someone in their household, need assistance in searching for suitable dwellings to lease under the program.

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: No

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: Yes

Class Action Outcome: Granted

Defendants

The Housing Authority of the City of New Haven, City

Case Details

Causes of Action:

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

Section 504 (Rehabilitation Act), 29 U.S.C. § 701

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Complaint (any)

Any published opinion

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Defendant

Nature of Relief:

None

Source of Relief:

None