Source: https://www.justice.gov/crt/housing-and-civil-enforcement-cases-documents-214
Timestamp: 2018-09-21 09:44:29
Document Index: 152516445

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 3601', '§ 3612', '§ 3614', '§ 3602', '§ 3604', '§ 3604', '§ 3610', '§ 3610', '§ 3610', '§ 3610', '§ 3612', '§ 3604', '§ 3612', '§ 3614', '§ 3612', '§ 3614']

This action is brought by the United States to enforce the provisions of Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (the Fair Housing Act), as amended by the Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988, 42 U.S.C. §§ 3601-3619. It is brought on behalf of the Intermountain Fair Housing Council pursuant to Section 812(o) of the Fair Housing Act ("the Act"), as amended, 42 U.S.C. § 3612(o), as well as pursuant to Section 814(a) of the Act, 42 U.S.C. § 3614(a).
Baycrest Village ("Baycrest") are multifamily dwellings located in Caldwell, Idaho, in the District of Idaho.
Baycrest consist of four buildings without elevators, each with more than four dwellings, located at 2705 and 2709 Wildwood Circle and 2714 and 2718 Arlington Avenue, Caldwell, Idaho. There are a total of 18 ground floor units in the four buildings.
Baycrest was designed and constructed for first occupancy after March 13, 1991. The 18 ground floor units at Baycrest are dwellings within the meaning of 42 U.S.C. § 3602(b).
Each of the 18 ground floor units at Baycrest is a "covered multifamily dwelling" within the meaning of 42 U.S.C. § 3604(f)(7)(B) and is subject to the design and construction requirements set forth at 42 U.S.C. § 3604(f)(3)(C).
Defendant V.L.V. Company, L.L.C. ("V.L.V.") is a limited liability company formed under the laws of the State of Idaho. Defendant V.L.V. was at times relevant herein a contractor who was responsible for the construction of Baycrest. Defendant V.L.V.'s principal place of business is in Caldwell, Idaho.
Defendant T&J Properties, L.L.C. ("T&J Properties") is a limited liability company formed under the laws of the State of Idaho. Defendant T&J Properties was the owner of Baycrest at times relevant to the allegations of this complaint. Defendant T&J Properties has its principal place of business in Caldwell, Idaho.
Defendant V.L. Vanderpool Company, Inc. ("V.L. Vanderpool Co.") is a corporation formed under the laws of the State of Idaho. Defendant V.L. Vanderpool Co. was at times relevant herein the managing member of Defendant T&J Properties. Defendant V.L. Vanderpool has its principal place of business in Caldwell, Idaho.
Defendant Virginia L. Vanderpool was at times relevant to the allegations of this complaint the President of Defendant V.L. Vanderpool and acted on behalf of Defendant V.L. Vanderpool as a managing member of Defendant T&J Properties. Also, Defendant Virginia L. Vanderpool was at times relevant to the allegations of this complaint a managing member of Defendant V.L.V. Defendant Virginia Vanderpool resides in Caldwell, Idaho.
Defendant Pinnacle Engineering, Inc. ("Pinnacle") is a corporation formed under the laws of the state of Idaho. Defendant Pinnacle was responsible for the design of the common areas and the dwelling units at Baycrest. Defendant Pinnacle is a civil engineering company whose principal place of business is in Meridian, Idaho.
Plaintiff re-alleges and herein incorporates by reference the allegations set forth in paragraphs 1-12 above.
On or about June 15, 1998, the Intermountain Fair Housing Council filed a timely complaint with the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development ("HUD") pursuant to Section 810(a) of the Fair Housing Act, as amended, 42 U.S.C. § 3610(a), alleging that Defendants discriminated in housing because of handicap. In its complaint, the Intermountain Fair Housing Council alleged that its purpose of eliminating discrimination had been frustrated and its resources diverted from other activities because Baycrest was not designed and constructed in accordance with the accessibility requirements of the Fair Housing Act.
The Intermountain Fair Housing Council diverted resources from its other activities to investigate whether Baycrest was designed and constructed in violation of the Fair Housing Act and to pursue a complaint concerning Baycrest with HUD.
Pursuant to the requirements of 42 U.S.C. §§ 3610(a) & (b), the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development conducted and completed an investigation of the complaint filed by the Intermountain Fair Housing Council, attempted conciliation without success, and prepared a final investigative report. Based on information gathered in the investigation, the Secretary, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 3610(g)(1), determined that reasonable cause exists to believe that discriminatory housing practices had occurred. Accordingly, on January 16, 2001, the Secretary issued a Charge of Discrimination pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 3610(g)(2)(A), charging Defendants with engaging in discriminatory housing practices in violation of the Fair Housing Act.
On or about January 25, 2001, Defendants Virginia L. Vanderpool, V.L.V., V.L. Vanderpool Co., and T&J Properties elected to have the Charge resolved in a civil action filed in federal district court, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 3612(a).
On January 25, 2001, the Chief Administrative Law Judge issued a Notice of Election of Judicial Determination and terminated the administrative proceeding on the complaint filed by the IFHC.
The defendants have failed to design and construct Baycrest so that:
the public use and common use portions are readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities, including but not limited to:(i) providing an accessible route from parking and other pedestrian arrival points to the covered dwelling units at 2705 Wildwood, 2714 Arlington and 2718 Arlington, and (ii) providing an accessible route into the rental office/manager's unit;
ground floor units contain features of adaptive design, including but not limited to the following: (i) an accessible route into the four covered dwelling units at 2709 Wildwood; (ii) in all 18 covered ground-floor dwellings, kitchens and bathrooms such that an individual using a wheelchair can maneuver about the space.
Plaintiff re-alleges and herein incorporates by reference the allegations set forth in paragraphs 1-12, and 21-24, above.
The conduct of the defendants described in paragraph 21 constitutes:
Failing or refusing to bring the 18 ground-floor units and public use and common use areas at Baycrest into compliance with 42 U.S.C. § 3604(f)(3)(C);
Awards such damages as would fully compensate each person aggrieved by the defendants' discriminatory housing practices, including the Intermountain Fair Housing Council, for injuries resulting from the defendants' discriminatory conduct, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §§ 3612(o)(3), 3613(c)(1),and 42 U.S.C. § 3614(d)(1)(B);
Awards punitive damages to each person aggrieved by the defendants' discriminatory housing practices, including the Intermountain Fair Housing Council, because of the intentional and willful nature of the defendants' conduct, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §§ 3612(o)(3), 3613(c)(1), and 42 U.S.C. § 3614(d)(1)(B);
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