Case: United States v. Collier

5:08-cv-00686 | U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana

Filed Date: May 20, 2008

Closed Date: 2015

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Case Summary

On May 20, 2008, the United States filed a lawsuit under the Fair Housing Act, 42 U.S.C. §§3601-3619, against the managers and operators of a residential community in Haughton, Louisiana, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana. The plaintiff filed the suit on behalf of a Caucasian couple who owned a town house located in the community and the couple who attempted to purchase the house from them. The plaintiff alleges the defendants prevented the sale of the c…
On May 20, 2008, the United States filed a lawsuit under the Fair Housing Act, 42 U.S.C. §§3601-3619, against the managers and operators of a residential community in Haughton, Louisiana, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana. The plaintiff filed the suit on behalf of a Caucasian couple who owned a town house located in the community and the couple who attempted to purchase the house from them. The plaintiff alleges the defendants prevented the sale of the complainants' home to the couple on the basis of race. The prospectives buyers were in fact white, but their real estate agent was black. The defendants believed that the agent's clients were also black and refused to permit the sale based on that belief. Specifically, defendant applied different criteria (background check), made discriminatory statements and threatened to refuse to provide services, and ultimately forced the buyers to back out of the sale. The Plaintiff sought declaratory, injunctive and monetary relief as well as civil penalties.After a September 2, 2009 bench trial, on September 28, 2010, the Court (Judge Stagg), entered a Memorandum Ruling and a Judgment, finding that defendant's actions were "a disingenuous scheme or device to exclude blacks ... and [are] additional evidence of a ... pattern or practice of racial discrimination." The court awarded the complainants $21,723.65 in damages, ordered the defendants to pay a $25,000 civil penalty to the United States, and enjoined the defendants from discriminating in their housing practices with respect to the sale or rental of dwellings on the basis of race. Judge Stagg ordered that the judgment to remain in effect for 5 years.In 2015, the order terminated and the case is now closed.

Summary Authors

Denise Heberle (8/3/2012)

Clearinghouse (12/1/2018)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/5110008/parties/u-s-a-v-collier/

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

5:08-cv-00686

Docket

Dec. 16, 2010

Dec. 16, 2010

Docket
1

5:08-cv-00686

Complaint

May 20, 2008

May 20, 2008

Complaint
60

5:08-cv-00686

Judgment

Sept. 28, 2010

Sept. 28, 2010

Order/Opinion
59

5:08-cv-00686

Memorandum

Sept. 28, 2010

Sept. 28, 2010

Order/Opinion

Resources

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/5110008/u-s-a-v-collier/

Last updated Aug. 21, 2025, 3:45 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
30

MEMORANDUM ORDER granting 12 Motion in Limine; denying 13 Motion in Limine; granting 14 Motion in Limine. Signed by Judge Tom Stagg on 7/30/2009. (crt,McDonnell, D)

1 Searchable Copy of Opinion

View on PACER

July 30, 2009

July 30, 2009

RECAP
31

MEMORANDUM ORDER denying in part 17 Motion in Limine. Signed by Judge Tom Stagg on 7/30/2009. (crt,McDonnell, D)

1 Searchable Copy of Opinion

View on PACER

July 30, 2009

July 30, 2009

RECAP
59

MEMORANDUM RULING. Signed by Judge Tom Stagg on 9/28/2010. (crt,Keifer, K)

1 Searchable Copy of Opinion

View on PACER

Sept. 28, 2010

Sept. 28, 2010

RECAP

Case Details

State / Territory: Louisiana

Case Type(s):

Fair Housing/Lending/Insurance

Special Collection(s):

Multi-LexSum (in sample)

Key Dates

Filing Date: May 20, 2008

Closing Date: 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

Reggie Collier (Haughton), Private Entity/Person

Kim Collier (Haughton), Private Entity/Person

Defendant Type(s):

Multi-family housing provider

Case Details

Causes of Action:

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

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Complaint (any)

Monetary Relief

Injunctive (or Injunctive-like) Relief

Non-settlement Outcome

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff

Nature of Relief:

Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement

Damages

Source of Relief:

Litigation

Content of Injunction:

Discrimination Prohibition

Amount Defendant Pays: 46,723.65

Order Duration: 2010 - 2015

Issues

General/Misc.:

Access to public accommodations - privately owned

Pattern or Practice

Racial segregation

Discrimination Area:

Disparate Treatment

Housing Sales/Rental

Discrimination Basis:

Race discrimination

Affected Race(s):

Black