Justice Department Settles Disability Discrimination Lawsuit Against Texas Developers

Strategic Insights -

The Justice Department has settled a lawsuit against 10 Austin, Texas developers, builders, architects, and engineers alleging disability discrimination in the design and construction of two housing developments. The suit, filed in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, was brought to enforce provisions of the federal Fair Housing Act that require recently constructed dwellings to include features designed to make the dwellings more accessible to persons with physical disabilities. The settlement requires the defendants to make accessibility retrofits at St. John's Village and Hunting Meadows Apartments, including retrofitting parking areas, paths, and walkways, public and common-use areas, as well as the interiors of ground-floor units.

Key Takeaways:

  • The lawsuit was filed under the federal Fair Housing Act, which prohibits discrimination in housing on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, familial status, national origin, and disability.
  • The 10 defendants, including developers, builders, architects, and engineers, have agreed to make accessibility retrofits at St. John's Village and Hunting Meadows Apartments.
  • The retrofits include features such as usable doors, accessible routes, and accessible light switches and thermostats.
  • The defendants will also establish a $50,000 fund to compensate individuals harmed by the inaccessible housing and pay $10,000 in civil penalties to the government.
  • The settlement also requires the defendants to undergo training on the requirements of the Fair Housing Act and make periodic reports to the government on the status of their facilities.

Statistics:

  • 156 rental apartments at St. John's Village will undergo accessibility retrofits.
  • 200 rental apartments at Huntington Meadows will undergo accessibility retrofits.
  • 52 ground-floor units at St. John's Village will be retrofitted to make them accessible.
  • 110 ground-floor units at Huntington Meadows will be retrofitted to make them accessible.

Sources:

  • U.S. Newswire via COMTEX. "Justice Department Settles Disability Discrimination Lawsuit Against 10 Texas Developers." September 28, 2006.
  • U.S. Department of Justice. "Fair Housing Act." Retrieved from