Case: Pollitt v. Bramel

1:86-00983 | U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio

Filed Date: Sept. 24, 1986

Closed Date: 1987

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Case Summary

Plaintiffs, prospective tenants, sought to rent a trailer from Defendant-landlords. Plaintiffs alleged that Defendants refused to rent to Plaintiffs because of the Plaintiffs' ethnicity, and filed suit under federal civil rights statutes, 42 U.S.C. §§ 1981 and 1982, and the Fair Housing Act (FHA), 42 U.S.C. §§ 3601-3619, seeking preliminary and permanent injunctions, compensatory and punitive damages, attorneys' fees, and costs against Defendant-landlords.After a bench trial, U.S. District Cour…

Plaintiffs, prospective tenants, sought to rent a trailer from Defendant-landlords. Plaintiffs alleged that Defendants refused to rent to Plaintiffs because of the Plaintiffs' ethnicity, and filed suit under federal civil rights statutes, 42 U.S.C. §§ 1981 and 1982, and the Fair Housing Act (FHA), 42 U.S.C. §§ 3601-3619, seeking preliminary and permanent injunctions, compensatory and punitive damages, attorneys' fees, and costs against Defendant-landlords.

After a bench trial, U.S. District Court Judge Weber ruled in favor of the Plaintiffs on September 8, 1987, finding that the Plaintiffs had established a case of ethnic discrimination by a preponderance of the evidence and that the Defendant's explanation was pretextual. Pollitt v. Bramel, 669 F. Supp. 172 (S.D. Ohio 1987). Judge Weber awarded the Plaintiffs preliminary and permanent injunctions, $25,000 in compensatory damages, and $25,000 in punitive damages. Judge Weber denied the Plaintiffs' motion for attorneys' fees.

Summary Authors

Andrew Nash (6/2/2008)

People

Judge(s)

Weber, Herman Jacob (Ohio)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Laufman, Robert Franklin (Ohio)

Spaulding, Debra S (Kentucky)

Attorney for Defendant

Winters, Ralph Gary (Ohio)

Judge(s)

Weber, Herman Jacob (Ohio)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Laufman, Robert Franklin (Ohio)

Spaulding, Debra S (Kentucky)

Attorney for Defendant

Winters, Ralph Gary (Ohio)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

1:86-00983

Order [Re: Judgment]

Sept. 10, 1987

Sept. 10, 1987

Order/Opinion

669 F.Supp. 669

Docket

Last updated March 1, 2024, 3 a.m.

Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.

Case Details

State / Territory: Ohio

Case Type(s):

Fair Housing/Lending/Insurance

Key Dates

Filing Date: Sept. 24, 1986

Closing Date: 1987

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Black and white married couple who was denied housing only after the husband's race was discovered.

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: No

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Bramel's Trailer Court, Private Entity/Person

Case Details

Causes of Action:

42 U.S.C. § 1981

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

42 U.S.C. § 1982

Available Documents:

Any published opinion

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff

Nature of Relief:

Damages

Source of Relief:

Litigation

Order Duration: 1987 - None

Issues

Discrimination-area:

Housing Sales/Rental

Discrimination-basis:

Race discrimination

Race:

Black