Filed Date: Aug. 29, 2011
Closed Date: Sept. 2, 2015
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On August 29, 2011, the United States Department of Justice filed suit under the Fair Housing Act, 42 U.S.C. §§3601, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, against owners, operators and managers of a 16-unit apartment building in New Orleans, Louisiana. The DOJ alleged that testing completed by the Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center revealed that the defendants had engaged in a pattern and practice of rental discrimination on the basis of race or color. Specifically, the complaint alleged that defendants refused to return phone calls from prospective renters who were African-American, but did return phone calls from prospective white renters, and otherwise made units unavailable to persons of color. The U.S. sought injunctive, declaratory, and monetary relief as well as civil penalties.
Settlement negotiations preceded the lawsuit, and the parties filed a proposed settlement concurrently with the complaint. On September 02, 2011, the Court (Judge Kurt D. Engelhardt) approved that four-year Consent Order. The decree covered all properties in which the defendants have any ownership or management interest; in addition to generally prohibiting discrimination, it required development and posting of non-discrimination policies, prominent posting of availability of units with the Equal Housing Opportunity slogan, explicit anti-discrimination notices in all advertising, and training of all employees. The settlement also provided for a system of recordkeeping to insure people of color were not being turned away, and maintenance of a timely updated list of available units.
Defendants paid $50,000 to the Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center and $10,000 as a civil penalty. The case terminated on September 07, 2011.
Summary Authors
Asma Husain (2/7/2016)
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/12789863/parties/united-states-v-bouchon/
Engelhardt, Kurt Damian (Louisiana)
Bond, Rebecca B. (District of Columbia)
Gutierrez, Sandra Ema (Louisiana)
Keveney, Sean R. (District of Columbia)
Gaffney, Michael (Louisiana)
Engelhardt, Kurt Damian (Louisiana)
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/12789863/united-states-v-bouchon/
Last updated March 13, 2024, 3:02 a.m.
State / Territory: Louisiana
Case Type(s):
Fair Housing/Lending/Insurance
Special Collection(s):
Key Dates
Filing Date: Aug. 29, 2011
Closing Date: Sept. 2, 2015
Case Ongoing: No
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
United States Department of Justice
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
Bouchon Limited Family Partnership, Private Entity/Person
Defendant Type(s):
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: 60,000
Order Duration: 2011 - 2015
Content of Injunction:
Develop anti-discrimination policy
Comply with advertising/recruiting requirements
Implement complaint/dispute resolution process
Issues
General:
Discrimination-area:
Discrimination-basis:
Race: