Filed Date: Oct. 19, 2023
Case Ongoing
Clearinghouse coding complete
This case involved the discriminatory denial and discouragement of loan and credit service applications in majority-Black and Hispanic neighborhoods. On October 19, 2023, the United States government brought a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida. The plaintiff sued Ameris Bank under the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Credit Opportunity Act. The plaintiff alleged that the defendant purposefully engaged in the practice of redlining—denying or discouraging loan and credit service applications on the basis of race, color, or national origin—in neighborhoods that were majority Black and Hispanic in Jacksonville, Florida. Furthermore, the plaintiff argued that there was no justification for Ameris bank’s conduct as they were not taken due to business necessity or legitimate business considerations. The plaintiff sought declaratory relief, injunctive relief, monetary damages, and civil penalties. The case was assigned to District Judge Marcia Morales Howard.
On November 7 2023, the parties jointly submitted a consent order to resolve all claims. Both parties agreed that the matter would be resolved if the defendant implemented the terms stated in the consent order. The consent order required the defendant to establish mechanisms for ensuring compliance with both congressional acts. It established mechanisms for fair lending compliance, fair lending training, and the assessment of community credit needs. It also required the defendant to hire a full-time employee responsible for overseeing lending in majority-Black and Hispanic census tracts and to open a new full-service branch in a majority-Black and Hispanic census tract. Additionally, the defendant agreed to invest in a loan subsidy fund; to spend on partnerships with community-based or governmental organizations; and to spend on advertising, outreach, and consumer financial education for residents of majority-Black and Hispanic census tracts. The consent order included terms for evaluating and monitoring compliance. All requirements were to remain in effect for five years.
The court approved the consent order on November 7, 2023, retaining jurisdiction to enforce the terms of the order.
As of February 9, 2024, there has been no docket activity.
Summary Authors
Renuka Wagh (2/9/2024)
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/67896408/parties/united-states-v-ameris-bank/
Howard, Marcia Morales (Florida)
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/67896408/united-states-v-ameris-bank/
Last updated April 13, 2024, 3:20 a.m.
State / Territory: Florida
Case Type(s):
Fair Housing/Lending/Insurance
Key Dates
Filing Date: Oct. 19, 2023
Case Ongoing: Yes
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
Plaintiff is the United States government
Plaintiff Type(s):
U.S. Dept of Justice plaintiff
Public Interest Lawyer: No
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
Ameris Bank, 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.
Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA), 15 U.S.C. § 1691
Available Documents:
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: $9,000,000
Issues
General/Misc.:
Discrimination Area:
Discrimination Basis:
National origin discrimination
Affected Race(s):