Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-5_05-cv-00643/USCOURTS-cand-5_05-cv-00643-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 443
Nature of Suit: Civil Rights Accommodations
Cause of Action: 42:405 Fair Housing Act

---

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

Kerstin Arusha, State Bar #182624

Annette Kirkham, State Bar # 217958 

FAIR HOUSING LAW PROJECT 

111 West St. John Street, Suite 315 

San Jose, CA 95113 

Telephone: (408) 280-2412 

Fascimile: (408) 293-0106 

Attorneys for Plaintiffs Stella and Jack Syvertsen 

Liza Cristol-Deman, State Bar No. 190516 

Christopher Brancart, State Bar No. 128475 

BRANCART & BRANCART 

P.O Box 686 

Pescadero, CA 94060 

Tel: (650) 879-0141 

Fax: (650) 879-1103 

Attorneys for Plaintiff Project Sentinel

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

STELLA SYVERTSEN, JACK 

SYVERTSEN, and PROJECT SENTINEL, 

a California not-for-profit corporation; 

 Plaintiffs, 

 v. 

G&K MANAGEMENT, G&K 

INDUSTRIES, and KARLA DOE; 

 Defendants. 

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

Case No. C05-0643 RS 

[PROPOSED] CONSENT DECREE 

AND FINAL ORDER 

 

This action was brought by Plaintiffs asserting that Defendants violated state and 

federal fair housing statutes by refusing to make reasonable accommodations necessary 

for tenants with disabilities at an apartment complex known as San Jose Gardens. The 

parties have agreed that in order to avoid protracted and costly litigation the controversy 

should be resolved without a trial or adjudication on the merits and therefore have 

consented to entry of this consent decree and order. By entering into this agreement, 

1 

Syvertsen v. G & K Management, C05-0643 RS– Consent Decree and Final Order 

*E-FILED 7/14/04*
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

Defendants1 make no admission of liability and expressly deny that they engaged in any 

wrongdoing whatsoever. 

It is hereby ordered, adjudged and decreed that: 

MONETARY TERMS

1. Defendants shall abide by the terms set out in the Settlement Agreement by 

the time specified therein. 

RELEASE TERMS

2. Concurrently herewith, Plaintiffs and Defendants shall execute the 

Settlement Agreement referred to in paragraph 1. 

EQUITABLE TERMS

3. Defendant G&K Management Co., Inc. (erroneously sued as G&K 

Management), their employees, agents and all others acting on its behalf in connection 

with the operation of San Jose Gardens shall comply with the following terms: 

a. Continue to obey all local, state and federal laws prohibiting 

discrimination in the rental of housing; 

b. Continue to ensure that their employees have implemented and 

follow a written policy providing for consideration of requests for reasonable 

accommodations or reasonable modifications. That policy should comport with state and 

federal fair housing laws; 

 c. Accommodate all tenants with qualifying disabilities who are 

currently seeking a transfer to a different unit because of their disabilities by permitting 

them to move or providing them with the first available unit to which they qualify based 

on their order on the In-House Transfer Waiting List, with those needing reasonable 

accommodations having priority, in San Jose Gardens that suits the tenants’ medical 

needs; 

 1

Luz Soto has been or will be concurrently herewith voluntarily dismissed with prejudice pursuant to a stipulation

of the parties. Ms. Soto is no longer an employee or agent of defendants G&K Management. and is not subject to

the terms of this order. By this order, Ms. Soto is dismissed with prejudice.

2 

Syvertsen v. G & K Management, C05-0643 RS– Consent Decree and Final Order 
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

d. Continue to provide all residents and applicants with a HUD

pamphlet explaining fair housing laws. Defendants shall also provide information 

regarding the right to reasonable accommodations and modifications; 

e. Continue to display a fair housing poster as provided by HUD in a

conspicuous location in a common area or rental office of the residential rental premises; 

f. San Jose Gardens management staff and property supervisor shall 

attend and San Jose Gardens shall pay in an amount not to exceed $500 for a fair housing 

training course not to exceed three hours once per year for three years conducted by 

Project Sentinel; and, 

g. Provide a written document to Project Sentinel, Attention Ann 

Marquart, 430 Sherman Avenue, Suite 308, Palo Alto, California 94306 every year

during the effective period of this Consent Decree certifying that Defendants have

complied with the terms of the consent decree for the previous year, commencing on June

30, 2006. In the event G&K fails for any reason to provide such letter, Project Sentinel 

shall provide G&K with written notice and a ten (10) business day period to provide the 

same. 

6. This order shall be in effect for a period of three years from the date of 

entry, and the Court shall retain jurisdiction for purposes of enforcement. This order will 

terminate at the end of the three-year period. 

7. The parties agree to attempt to work out in good faith any disputes that

arise under the terms of this order. Only after good faith mediation attempts have been 

exhausted will the parties request the assistance of the Court in resolving the dispute. 

Plaintiffs shall provide notice in writing to Defendants at least ten (10) days prior to 

initiating any contempt proceedings after any mediation attempts have failed. 

 Ordered this day of July, 2005. 

 

 

 Honorable Richard Seeborg 

 United States Magistrate Judge 

3 

Syvertsen v. G & K Management, C05-0643 RS– Consent Decree and Final Order 

14TH

/s/ Richard Seeborg
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

Approved as to content and form: 

FAIR HOUSING LAW PROJECT 

/s/ Dated: June 28, 2005

Kerstin Arusha 

Attorney for Syvertsen Plaintiffs 

BRANCART & BRANCART 

/s/ Dated: June 27, 2005 

Liza Cristol-Deman 

Attorney for Plaintiff 

 Project Sentinel 

SAUER & WAGNER LLP 

/s/ Dated: June 28, 2005 

Eve H. Wagner 

Attorney for Defendants 

4 

Syvertsen v. G & K Management, C05-0643 RS– Consent Decree and Final Order