Filed Date: March 10, 2011
Closed Date: 2016
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On March 10, 2011, the United States filed a race discrimination lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, under the Fair Housing Act, 42 U.S.C. §§3601-3619, against the owners/operators of a residential apartment complex located in Pearl River, New York, in Rockland County. The U.S. Department of Justice sought injunctive, declaratory, and monetary relief and civil penalties, claiming that the defendant failed to inform African American prospective tenants about available apartments, while telling similarly situated white persons about the availability of the same apartments; misrepresented the price of units to African American prospective tenants to discourage their application; and failed to show available apartments or negotiate for their rental to African Americans while showing apartments and negotiating with non-African Americans.
On June 16, 2011, 3 months after the Complaint was filed, the Court (Judge Vincent Briccetti) approved a five-year consent decree submitted by the parties. The decree generally enjoined the defendant from engaging in race discrimination, and required development and posting of a non-discrimination policy; equal housing opportunity training; and development of uniform standards and procedures for informing people about the availability of apartments, showing those apartments, and negotiating for their rental. The defendant agreed to submit to compliance testing, to maintain records, and to notify the U.S. about any policy changes and any complaints filed. The decree also included a $55,000 civil penalty.
The consent decree expired with no further litigation. The case is now closed.
Summary Authors
Asma Husain (2/6/2016)
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/12716572/parties/united-states-v-pearl-river-gardens-llc/
Briccetti, Vincent Louis (New York)
Bharara, Preetinder S. (New York)
Filor, Daniel (New York)
Holder, Eric H. Jr. (District of Columbia)
Jones, David S (New York)
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/12716572/united-states-v-pearl-river-gardens-llc/
Last updated Aug. 21, 2025, 3:43 a.m.
State / Territory: New York
Case Type(s):
Fair Housing/Lending/Insurance
Special Collection(s):
Key Dates
Filing Date: March 10, 2011
Closing Date: 2016
Case Ongoing: No
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
United States Department of Justice on behalf of prospective African-American tenants
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
Pearl River Gardens, LLC (Pearl River), 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
Content of Injunction:
Develop anti-discrimination policy
Provide antidiscrimination training
Implement complaint/dispute resolution process
Amount Defendant Pays: 55,000
Order Duration: 2011 - 2016
Issues
General/Misc.:
Discrimination Area:
Discrimination Basis:
Affected Race(s):