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Case Name
Baker v. Wildflower Inn
PA-VT-0001
Docket / Court
183-7-11 ( State Court )
State/Territory
Vermont
Case Type(s)
Public Accomm./Contracting
Special Collection
Same-Sex Marriage
Attorney Organization
ACLU Affiliates (any)
Case Summary
In 2011, two women denied the opportunity to host their wedding reception at a particular private hotel due to their sexual orientation brought suit against that hotel to obtain a court order that the hotel's no-gay-receptions policy violated state law (Vermont's State Housing and Public ...
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In 2011, two women denied the opportunity to host their wedding reception at a particular private hotel due to their sexual orientation brought suit against that hotel to obtain a court order that the hotel's no-gay-receptions policy violated state law (Vermont's State Housing and Public Accommodations Act) and to prohibit future discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation. The couple was represented by the ACLU, and the Vermont Human Rights Commission intervened on their behalf after discovery of a pattern of this behavior with other couples. After Defendant's motion to dismiss was denied by State Judge Robert P. Gerety, the parties reached a settlement. As part of the settlement agreement, Wildflower Inn agreed that Vermont's public accommodations law prohibits unequal treatment of same-sex couples, which includes turning away same-sex couples seeking to have a wedding reception, failing to respond to inquiries from those couples, or discouraging those couples from using the facilities. The resort also agreed to pay $10,000 to the Vermont Human Rights Commission as a civil penalty and to place $20,000 in a charitable trust to be disbursed by the couple. The plaintiffs were not awarded any settlement amount personally; they had sought only nominal damages.
Carlos Torres - 05/18/2013
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Issues and Causes of Action
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Issues
Constitutional Clause
Equal Protection
Content of Injunction
Apology
Discrimination Prohibition
Discrimination-basis
Sexual orientatation
General
Gay/lesbian/transgender
Plaintiff Type
Private Plaintiff
Type of Facility
Non-government for profit
Causes of Action
State law
Case Details
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Defendant(s)
Wildflower Inn d/b/a DOR Associates LLP
Plaintiff Description
Same-sex couple desiring to be married a t private venue, denied the opportunity to do so because of their same-sex status.
Indexed Lawyer Organizations
ACLU Affiliates (any)
Class action status sought
No
Class action status granted
No
Filed Pro Se
No
Prevailing Party
Plaintiff
Public Int. Lawyer
Yes
Nature of Relief
Damages
Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement
Source of Relief
Settlement
Form of Settlement
Court Approved Settlement or Consent Decree
Order Duration
2012 - n/a
Filed
2011
Case Closing Year
2012
Case Ongoing
No
Documents
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Court
Docket(s)
No docket sheet currently in the collection
General Documents
State Trial Court
08/05/2011
Amended Complaint
PA-VT-0001-0001.pdf
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Detail
Source: ACLU
State Trial Court
04/11/2012
Decision on Motions
(2012 WL 3965163)
PA-VT-0001-0002.pdf
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WESTLAW
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External Link
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Detail
Source: ACLU
State Trial Court
08/23/2012
Settlement Agreement
PA-VT-0001-0003.pdf
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Detail
Source: ACLU
People
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Judges
Gerety, Robert P Jr.
(State Trial Court)
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PA-VT-0001-0002
Plaintiff's Lawyers
Appel, Robert
(Vermont)
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PA-VT-0001-0003
Barrett, Dan
(Vermont)
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PA-VT-0001-0001 | PA-VT-0001-0003
Block, Joshua A
(New York)
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PA-VT-0001-0001 | PA-VT-0001-0003
Cooper, Leslie
(New York)
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PA-VT-0001-0001
Defendant's Lawyers
Babione, Byron J.
(Arizona)
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PA-VT-0001-0003
Campbell, James A.
(Arizona)
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PA-VT-0001-0003
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