Case: Trafficante v. Metropolitan Life Ins. Co.

3:70-cv-01754 | U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California

Filed Date: Aug. 18, 1970

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

In 1970, two residents of the Parkmerced complex of apartments and town houses in San Francisco filed a lawsuit pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1982 and the fair housing provisions of Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, alleging that defendant Metropolitan Life Insurance Company was engaging in discriminatory housing practices. Plaintiffs claimed that, because of the discriminatory practices, they lost the social benefits of li…

In 1970, two residents of the Parkmerced complex of apartments and town houses in San Francisco filed a lawsuit pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1982 and the fair housing provisions of Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, alleging that defendant Metropolitan Life Insurance Company was engaging in discriminatory housing practices. Plaintiffs claimed that, because of the discriminatory practices, they lost the social benefits of living in an integrated community, they missed business and professional advantages which would have accrued if they had lived with members of minority groups, and they suffered embarrassment and economic damage in social, business, and professional activities from being "stigmatized" as residents of a "white ghetto."

On February 10, 1971, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California (Judge Robert H. Schnacke) dismissed both the complaint and the complaint in intervention due to lack of standing, noting that the plaintiffs had not alleged, "nor can they, that they themselves have been denied any of the rights granted by Title VIII or by 42 U.S.C. § 1982 to purchase or rent real property." Trafficante v. Metropolitan, 322 F.Supp. 352 (N.D. California 1971). On August 6, 1971, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (Judge Elizabeth J. Jameson) affirmed the District Court's order of dismissal. Trafficante v. Metropolitan, 446 F.2d 1158 (9th Cir. 1971). The Supreme Court granted certiorari on February 22, 1972. Trafficante v. Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, 405 U.S. 915 (1972). On December 7, 1972, the U.S. Supreme Court (Justice William O. Douglas) reversed the Circuit Court order, holding that the definition in § 810(a) of "person aggrieved" as "any person who claims to have been injured by a discriminatory housing practice," shows a congressional intention to define standing as broadly as is permitted by Article III of the Constitution, and petitioners, being tenants of the apartment complex, have standing to sue under § 810(a). Trafficante v. Metropolitan, 409 U.S. 205 (1972). On remand to the District Court, the case was subsequently settled.

We have no further information on this matter.

Summary Authors

Brandon Brown (7/11/2007)

People


Judge(s)

Carter, Oliver Jesse (California)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Bomse, Stephen V. (California)

Brown, Margaret D. (California)

Attorney for Defendant
Expert/Monitor/Master/Other

Browning, James L. Jr. (District of Columbia)

Chambers, Richard Harvey (Arizona)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

3:70-cv-01754

Memorandum of Points and Authorities in Opposition to Motions to Dismiss

Trafficante v. Metropolitan Life Insurance Company

Dec. 8, 1970

Dec. 8, 1970

Pleading / Motion / Brief

3:70-cv-01754

Memorandum Opinion and Order Dismissing Complaint and Complaint in Intervention

Trafficante v. Metropolitan Life Insurance Company

Feb. 10, 1971

Feb. 10, 1971

Order/Opinion

322 F.Supp. 322

71-01325

[Order Affirming District Court Dismissal]

Trafficante v. Metropolitan Life Insurance Company

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

Aug. 6, 1971

Aug. 6, 1971

Order/Opinion

446 F.2d 446

71-00708

Brief for the United States as Amicus Curiae

Trafficante v. Metropolitan Life Insurance Company

Supreme Court of the United States

Oct. 1, 1971

Oct. 1, 1971

Pleading / Motion / Brief

71-00708

[Cert. Granted]

Trafficante v. Metropolitan Life Insurance Company

Supreme Court of the United States

Feb. 22, 1972

Feb. 22, 1972

Order/Opinion

405 U.S. 405

71-00708

Order [Reversing and Remanding]

Trafficante v. Metropolitan Life Insurance Company

Supreme Court of the United States

Dec. 7, 1972

Dec. 7, 1972

Order/Opinion

409 U.S. 409

71-01325

Brief for the United States as Amicus Curiae

Trafficante v. Metropolitan Life Insurance Company

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

None

None

Pleading / Motion / Brief

Resources

Docket

Last updated Feb. 13, 2024, 3:08 a.m.

Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.

Case Details

State / Territory: California

Case Type(s):

Fair Housing/Lending/Insurance

Key Dates

Filing Date: Aug. 18, 1970

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Tenants of apartment complex challenging allegedly racially discriminatory practices of landlord. Because of landlord's discrimination against nonwhites, the tenants say they lost social benefits of living in an integrated community.

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, Private Entity/Person

Case Details

Causes of Action:

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

Available Documents:

Any published opinion

U.S. Supreme Court merits opinion

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff

Nature of Relief:

Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement

Source of Relief:

Settlement

Form of Settlement:

Private Settlement Agreement