This case consolidated two separate fair housing lawsuits, which were then settled together.

The Fair Housing Center of Washtenaw County, Inc. (also known as the Fair Housing Center of Southeastern Michigan), filed the first action, Case 2:09-cv-12815-SFC-MKM (E.D. Mich.), in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. The suit, filed July 16, 2009, alleged that Acme Investments, Inc., which owned and operated Ivanhoe House Apartments, in Ann Arbor, Michigan, of systematic discrimination against African-Americans in violation of the Fair Housing Act ("FHA"), 42 U.S.C. § 3601 et seq., the Civil Rights Acts of 1866 and 1870, 42 U.S.C. §§ 1981 and 1982, and the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, M.C.L. § 37.2501 et seq. On March 3, 2010, the United States filed a similar action against the same defendants in the same court, Civil Action No. 2:10-cv-10853, to enforce the provisions of Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, as amended by the Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988, 42 U.S.C. §§ 3601 et seq. The case had been developed through testing, which revealed that Acme employees frequently told African American persons that no units were available while simultaneously telling white persons units were available to rent or inspect; and refused to process applications by African Americans. The cases sought declaratory, injunctive, and monetary relief, along with civil penalties. The court (Judge Sean Cox) consolidated the two on March 31, 2010.

The parties entered settlement negotiations, and on July 7, 2010, the Court entered a three-year Consent Decree for the parties. The Consent Decree forbids discrimination, and includes provisions requiring training, public notice, and record-keeping. Defendants agreed to pay $35,000 to the aggrieved persons, $40,000 to the Fair Housing Center, and a $7,500 civil penalty.

- 12/22/2011


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