Case: United States v. Dovenberg Investments, LLC

3:11-cv-00738 | U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin

Filed Date: Oct. 28, 2011

Closed Date: 2014

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

On October 28, 2011, the United States filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Western District, under the Fair Housing Act, 42 U.S.C. §§3601-3631, against the owner of a single-family rental home located in Bangor, Wisconsin. The suit was on behalf of a complainant who was a single mother with a minor child; the U.S. alleged--and the defendant conceded-- that the Defendant refused to rent the home to the complainant because of her sex and familial status. The parties moved …
On October 28, 2011, the United States filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Western District, under the Fair Housing Act, 42 U.S.C. §§3601-3631, against the owner of a single-family rental home located in Bangor, Wisconsin. The suit was on behalf of a complainant who was a single mother with a minor child; the U.S. alleged--and the defendant conceded-- that the Defendant refused to rent the home to the complainant because of her sex and familial status. The parties moved for entry of a Consent Decree simultaneously with filing the Complaint, in a filing in which the defendant agreed that the alleged conduct had occurred and was unlawful.The Court (Judge James Robart) approved that three-year consent decree in November 2011. In addition to general prohibitions against discrimination on the basis of sex and familial status, record-keeping and reporting requirements, the Decree requires defendants to declare that they are committed to "Equal Housing Opportunity" in all advertising and on leases; and to engage in EHO training. Defendants also agreed to pay the Complainants $15,000, and to issue a formal, written apology.The decree terminated in 2014, and the case is now closed.

Summary Authors

Clearinghouse (10/20/2012)

People

Judge(s)

Conley, William Martin (Wisconsin)

Crocker, Stephen L. (Wisconsin)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Oswald, Barbara L. (Wisconsin)

Vaudreuil, John W. (Wisconsin)

Attorney for Defendant

Radcliffe, Richard (Wisconsin)

show all people

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

3:11-cv-00738

Docket

Nov. 17, 2011

Nov. 17, 2011

Docket
1

3:11-cv-00738

Complaint

Oct. 28, 2011

Oct. 28, 2011

Complaint
5

3:11-cv-00738

Consent Decree

Nov. 17, 2011

Nov. 17, 2011

Settlement Agreement

Docket

Last updated March 27, 2025, 8:50 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT against Darlene Dovenberg, Dovenberg Investments, LLC, filed by United States of America. Service to be completed by Waiver of Service of Summons. (Attachments: # 1 JS−44 Civil Cover Sheet) (Oswald, Barbara) (Entered: 10/28/2011)

Oct. 28, 2011

Oct. 28, 2011

2

Motion for Entry of Consent Decree by Plaintiff United States of America. Response due 11/4/2011. (Oswald, Barbara) (Entered: 10/28/2011)

Oct. 28, 2011

Oct. 28, 2011

Case randomly assigned to Magistrate Judge Stephen L. Crocker. (arw) (Entered: 11/01/2011)

Nov. 1, 2011

Nov. 1, 2011

Standard attachments for Magistrate Judge Stephen L. Crocker required to be served on all parties with summons or waiver of service: Briefing Guidelines, Corporate Disclosure Statement, Order Regarding Assignment of Civil Cases, Notice of Assignment to Magistrate Judge and Consent/Request for Reassignment, Order on Dispositive Motions. (arw) (Entered: 11/01/2011)

Nov. 1, 2011

Nov. 1, 2011

3

Waiver of Service Returned Executed by Defendant Dovenberg Investments, LLC. Dovenberg Investments, LLC waiver sent on 10/28/2011, answer due 12/27/2011. (Oswald, Barbara) (Entered: 11/07/2011)

Nov. 7, 2011

Nov. 7, 2011

5

Consent Decree. Signed by District Judge William M. Conley on 11/16/11. (rep) (Entered: 11/17/2011)

Nov. 17, 2011

Nov. 17, 2011

6

** TEXT ONLY ORDER ** Consistent with the consent decree, this case is dismissed without prejudice subject to reopening upon good cause shown. Signed by District Judge William M. Conley on 11/16/11. (rep) (Entered: 11/17/2011)

Nov. 17, 2011

Nov. 17, 2011

Case Details

State / Territory: Wisconsin

Case Type(s):

Fair Housing/Lending/Insurance

Special Collection(s):

Multi-LexSum (in sample)

Key Dates

Filing Date: Oct. 28, 2011

Closing Date: 2014

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

United States

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

Dovenberg Investments, LLC (Bangor), Private Entity/Person

Defendant Type(s):

Single 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

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff

Nature of Relief:

Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement

Damages

Source of Relief:

Settlement

Form of Settlement:

Court Approved Settlement or Consent Decree

Content of Injunction:

Apology

Develop anti-discrimination policy

Provide antidiscrimination training

Reporting

Recordkeeping

Monitoring

Amount Defendant Pays: 15,000

Order Duration: 2011 - 2014

Issues

General/Misc.:

Housing

Discrimination Area:

Housing Sales/Rental

Discrimination Basis:

Family discrimination

Sex discrimination

Affected Sex/Gender(s):

Female