On July 14, 2008, the United States filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court of Indiana under the Fair Housing Act, 42 U.S.C. §3601-3619, against a condominium association and its Board of Directors. The plaintiff brought the suit on behalf of an African American couple and their two minor children. Specifically, the plaintiff challenged the defendants' "no minors" restriction as violative of the Fair Housing Act, and claimed the defendant refused to sell a unit to the family on the basis of race and familial status.

On October 28, 2010, the Court (Judge Simon) entered a four-year consent order agreed to by the parties. The order contains gereral prohibitions against discrimination of the basis of familial status or race, requires the Board to amend its policies as to minors and to provide training to all officers and directors on the Board, permanently removed and replaced the Board President, and required payment of $106,500 in damages, and a $13,500 civil penalty.

Denise Heberle - 08/02/2012


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