Opinion ID: 2257828
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Fair Housing Act Claim

Text: [¶ 12] The Madores next argue that even if their Rule 80C appeal is nonjusticiable, they have standing to litigate their FHA claim because they are seeking injunctive relief, declaratory relief, and attorney fees pursuant to that claim and therefore need not have a present interest in the property on which they seek to develop housing. [¶ 13] It is well established, however, that to have standing to seek injunctive and declaratory relief, a party must show that the challenged action constitutes an invasion of a legally protected interest which is (a) concrete and particularized, and (b) actual or imminent, not conjectural or hypothetical. Lujan v. Defenders of Wildlife, 504 U.S. 555, 560, 112 S.Ct. 2130, 119 L.Ed.2d 351 (1992) (footnote, citations, and internal quotation marks omitted). More specifically, a party raising an FHA claim must show that he has suffered a distinct and palpable injury that is likely to be redressed by a favorable judicial resolution. See South-Suburban Hous. Ctr. v. Greater South Suburban Bd. of Realtors, 935 F.2d 868, 878 (7th Cir.1991). [¶ 14] Here, the Madores did not have title, right, or interest in the full property which they sought to develop. Nor did they raise any other legally protected interest that would warrant either injunctive or declaratory relief. See, e.g., Halfway House, Inc., 670 A.2d at 1381 (finding that Pharos House had standing to challenge constitutionality of City ordinance where its existing business interests were directly affected by the ordinance). The court therefore did not err in dismissing the Madores' FHA claim.