Opinion ID: 3015223
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Discrimination “because of a handicap”

Text: Regardless of whether plaintiff frames a disparate treatment claim under the FHAA as one alleging discriminatory animus or one alleging a facially discriminatory classification, the most fundamental element of the claim is that plaintiff must demonstrate that defendant’s alleged discrimination was “because of a handicap.” 42 U.S.C. § 3604(f)(2). This requirement, plainly read from the language of the FHAA, is very often glossed over or, perhaps, so obvious as not worthy of discussion.7 Here, however, it does appear to us to be so 6 Consistent with Johnson Controls and DiBiase, we also noted in Erie County that whether the employer possessed a “malevolent motive or acted on the basis of hostile age-based stereotypes [wa]s irrelevant” as “a policy explicitly based on a prohibited factor . . . is illegal regardless of the underlying motive.” 220 F.3d at 212 (quoting Johnson Controls, 499 U.S. at 199-200). 7 For example, in a claim alleging discriminatory animus, where plaintiff adduces evidence that defendant had an “intent” to discriminate, the showing of intent easily satisfies to prove the proscribed “basis.” However, “intent” to discriminate and “basis” for discrimination are fundamentally different concepts. “Intent” need not be proven in a facially discriminatory 21 obvious and thus the focus of our inquiry on this point is whether “handicapped” or “disabled” status–the protected trait under the FHAA–was being used as the basis for different treatment. Cf. DiBiase, 48 F.3d at 726 (explaining that inquiry involves whether a “policy facially discriminates on the basis of the protected trait” and “explicitly classifies people on that basis”) (emphasis added). In the context of a facially discriminatory classification claim, to determine whether the basis of the alleged discrimination is indeed handicapped status, we must examine the language of the challenged regulation or policy, aided, if applicable, by any evidence of record that informs the analysis. For example, as we indicated above, a classification based on “service dogs” could, in many contexts, constitute a proxy for discrimination “because of” a handicap. However, were the challenged regulation to require “all domesticated dogs” to submit to mandatory vaccination, the express inclusion of “service dogs” would not discriminate “because of” a handicap, it would discriminate because a service dog is a “domesticated dog.” Here, we need to determine whether classification claim or in a disparate impact claim, both of which arise under § 3604(f)(2). However, to make out any claim for discrimination (under the FHAA or another law) the improper “basis” must be shown to be at the heart of the classification or conduct. 22 different treatment of a “personal care home” was necessarily “disability based.”