Filed Date: July 16, 2009
Closed Date: Jan. 6, 2014
Clearinghouse coding complete
This case consolidated two separate fair housing lawsuits, which were then settled together.
The Fair Housing Center of Washtenaw County, Inc. (also known as the Fair Housing Center of Southeastern Michigan), filed the first action in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. The suit, filed July 16, 2009, alleged that Acme Investments, Inc., which owned and operated Ivanhoe House Apartments, in Ann Arbor, Michigan, of systematic discrimination against African Americans in violation of the Fair Housing Act ("FHA"), 42 U.S.C. § 3601 et seq., the Civil Rights Acts of 1866 and 1870, 42 U.S.C. §§ 1981 and 1982, and the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, M.C.L. § 37.2501 et seq. On March 3, 2010, the United States filed a similar action against the same defendants in the same court, Civil Action No. 2:10-cv-10853, to enforce the provisions of Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, as amended by the Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988, 42 U.S.C. §§ 3601 et seq. The case had been developed through testing, which revealed that Acme employees frequently told African American persons that no units were available while simultaneously telling white persons units were available to rent or inspect. They also refused to process applications by African Americans. The cases sought declaratory, injunctive, and monetary relief, along with civil penalties. Judge Sean Cox consolidated the two cases on March 31, 2010.
The parties entered settlement negotiations and on July 7, 2010, the Court entered a three-year consent decree for the parties. The Consent Decree forbids discrimination, and includes provisions requiring training, public notice, and record-keeping. Defendants agreed to pay $35,000 to the aggrieved persons, $40,000 to the Fair Housing Center, and a $7,500 civil penalty.
There was no further docket activity until 2013. On July 2, the court extended the Consent Decree to Jan. 6, 2014. There is no subsequent docket activity, and the case appears to now be closed.
Summary Authors
Virginia Weeks (2/22/2018)
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/4291533/parties/fair-housing-center-of-washtenaw-county-incorporated-v-acme-investments/
Cox, Sean Francis (Michigan)
Majzoub, Mona K. (Michigan)
Holder, Eric H. Jr. (District of Columbia)
Levy, Judith Ellen (Michigan)
Lincoln, Holly C. (District of Columbia)
McQuade, Barbara L. (Michigan)
Moran, Timothy (District of Columbia)
Perez, Thomas E. (District of Columbia)
Rosenbaum, Steven H. (District of Columbia)
Pitts, Stanley (Michigan)
Cox, Sean Francis (Michigan)
Majzoub, Mona K. (Michigan)
Holder, Eric H. Jr. (District of Columbia)
Levy, Judith Ellen (Michigan)
Lincoln, Holly C. (District of Columbia)
McQuade, Barbara L. (Michigan)
Moran, Timothy (District of Columbia)
Perez, Thomas E. (District of Columbia)
Rosenbaum, Steven H. (District of Columbia)
Pitts, Stanley (Michigan)
Quinn, Brian (Michigan)
Chang, D. Scott (District of Columbia)
Dane, Stephen M. (District of Columbia)
Tomkowiak, Steve (Michigan)
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/4291533/fair-housing-center-of-washtenaw-county-incorporated-v-acme-investments/
Last updated May 11, 2022, 8 p.m.
State / Territory: Michigan
Case Type(s):
Fair Housing/Lending/Insurance
Key Dates
Filing Date: July 16, 2009
Closing Date: Jan. 6, 2014
Case Ongoing: No
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
United States Department of Justice and the Fair Housing Center of Washtenaw County
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
Acme Investments, Inc. (Troy), Private Entity/Person
Ivanhoe Apartments (Ann Arbor), 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.
Availably 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
Amount Defendant Pays: 82,500
Order Duration: 2010 - 2013
Content of Injunction:
Comply with advertising/recruiting requirements
Develop anti-discrimination policy
Implement complaint/dispute resolution process
Provide antidiscrimination training
Issues
General:
Discrimination-area:
Discrimination-basis:
Race: