Filed Date: Oct. 19, 2023
Closed Date: May 20, 2025
Clearinghouse coding complete
This is a case challenging a bank’s alleged discriminatory lending practices.
On October 19, 2023, the United States of America filed this lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida in the Jacksonville Division. The government sued Ameris Bank, asserting violations of the Fair Housing Act (FHA) and the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA). The government alleged that Ameris engaged in unlawful redlining by refusing to provide home loans and other mortgage services in majority-Black and Hispanic neighborhoods, while targeting majority-white areas to generate loan applications through marketing, advertising, and outreach. The government sought injunctive and declaratory relief, along with monetary damages and a civil penalty against Ameris. The case was assigned to District Judge Marcia Morales Howard.
On October 19, 2023, the parties filed a joint motion for approval and entry of a proposed consent order. On November 1, 2023, the court denied entry of the order. Judge Howard held that part of the proposed order simply required Ameris to obey the law, noting that the Eleventh Circuit had repeatedly held that “obey the law” injunctions are unenforceable. 2023 WL 7189413.
Two days later, the parties filed a joint motion for approval and entry of an amended consent order that omitted the offending injunction language. On November 7, 2023, the court signed the amended consent order.
After a change in presidential administration, on May 19, 2025, the government filed a motion to terminate the consent order early and dismiss the case, arguing that Ameris had demonstrated a commitment to remediation. The next day, the court granted the government’s motion.
Summary Authors
Alexis Gil (6/29/2026)
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)
Kenneth, Michael (Florida)
Pettis, Yohance Asim (Florida)
Goldberg, Noah Shea (Florida)
Gore, Nikhil Vikas (Florida)
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/67896408/united-states-v-ameris-bank/
Last updated July 22, 2026, 4:54 a.m.
State / Territory:
Case Type(s):
Fair Housing/Lending/Insurance
Special Collection(s):
Trump Administration 2.0: Reversing Course on Existing Litigation
Key Dates
Filing Date: Oct. 19, 2023
Closing Date: May 20, 2025
Case Ongoing: No
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
The plaintiff is the Department of Justice (DOJ) which is an executive department of the United States federal government that oversees the domestic enforcement of federal laws and the administration 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
Private Entity/Person
Ameris Bank
Defendant Type(s):
Facility Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA), 15 U.S.C. § 1691
Fair Housing Act/Fair Housing Amendments Act (FHAA), 42 U.S.C. §§ 3601 et seq.
Other Dockets:
Middle District of Florida 3:23-cv-01232
Available Documents:
Injunctive (or Injunctive-like) Relief
Outcome
Prevailing Party: Plaintiff OR Mixed
Relief Sought:
Relief Granted:
Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement
Source of Relief:
Form of Settlement:
Court Approved Settlement or Consent Decree
Content of Injunction:
Comply with advertising/recruiting requirements
Follow recruitment, hiring, or promotion protocols
Order Duration: 2023 - 2025
Issues
General/Misc.:
Discrimination Area:
Discrimination Basis:
National origin discrimination
Affected Language(s):
Affected National Origin/Ethnicity(s):
Affected Race(s):
Case Summary of United States v. Ameris Bank, Civil Rights Litig. Clearinghouse, https://clearinghouse.net/case/45127/ (last updated 6/29/2026).