Case: United States v. Montanus
1:25-cv-00195 | U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire
Filed Date: May 23, 2025
Case Ongoing
Clearinghouse coding complete
Case Summary
This case challenges the allegedly unlawful actions of two property owners under the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization of 2022 (VAWA). It was the first lawsuit filed by the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice to enforce the Housing Rights Subpart of VAWA.
On May 23, 2025, the United States of America filed this action in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire on behalf of Complainant B.G., a female domestic violence survivor and tenant who resided with her two minor children in New Hampshire. Complainant and her then-partner Joshua Hicks had entered into an oral rent-to-own lease agreement with Defendants — the co-owners of the property and parents of Hicks — beginning around August 31, 2021. On or around September 30, 2023, Hicks physically assaulted Complainant, and on October 5, 2023, she reported his violence to the police. He was arrested that evening and later indicted on multiple charges, including second-degree assault and two counts of aggravated felonious sexual assault. That same afternoon, when Complainant returned to the property to retrieve clothing and medication for her children, Defendants informed her she "no longer lived" there, demanded her key and garage opener, locked the doors, and had moved her possessions into the garage.
The complaint asserts that Defendants subsequently served two eviction notices and ultimately sold the property in April 2024, forcing Complainant and her children to vacate by August 2024. The United States alleges that Defendants violated the Housing Rights Subpart of VAWA by penalizing and evicting Complainant based on her request for law enforcement assistance. The United States sought a declaratory judgment that Defendants actions violated VAWA, injunctive relief preventing Defendants from penalizing anyone based on their requests for law enforcement or emergency assistance, and monetary damages. The case was assigned to District Judge Steven McAuliffe and Magistrate Judge Talesha Saint-Marc.
On July 18, 2025, the United States filed an amended complaint that expanded the description of damages to include emotional distress and out-of-pocket expenses suffered by Complainant. Accordingly, the relief was modified to include compensatory and emotional distress damages.
The parties filed a joint statement on February 24, 2026, that they sought to proceed through mediation. The mediation hearing took place before Magistrate Judge Saint-Marc on April 7. The United States filed a joint motion to dismiss and notice of settlement on April 16. Per the settlement agreement, Defendants agreed to play a total of $25,000 in monetary damages and Complainant agreed to release all claims against them. The court granted the joint motion to dismiss on April 20, 2026, and retained jurisdiction to enforce the terms of the settlement agreement until April 16, 2029.
As of July 31, 2026, the parties are working towards implementing the terms of the settlement.
Summary Authors
Ian Gibson (7/31/2026)
People
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/70349888/parties/united-states-v-montanus/
McAuliffe, Steven J. (New Hampshire)
Purinton, Anna (New Hampshire)
Marr, J. Daniel (New Hampshire)
White, Brittney (New Hampshire)
Documents in the Clearinghouse
Docket
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/70349888/united-states-v-montanus/
Last updated Sept. 9, 2026, 3:24 a.m.
Docket for: United States v. Montanus
Case Details
State / Territory:
Case Type(s):
Fair Housing/Lending/Insurance
Special Collection(s):
Trump Administration 2.0: Litigation and Investigations By the Government
Key Dates
Filing Date: May 23, 2025
Case Ongoing: Yes
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
The United States on behalf of B.G., a tenant of Defendant's.
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
Private Entity/Person
David and Lisa Montanus
Case Details
Other Dockets:
District of New Hampshire 1:25-cv-00195
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: Plaintiff OR Mixed
Relief Sought:
Relief Granted:
Source of Relief:
Form of Settlement:
Amount Defendant Pays: 25000
Issues
General/Misc.:
Case Summary of United States v. Montanus, Civil Rights Litig. Clearinghouse, https://clearinghouse.net/case/48118/ (last updated 7/31/2026).