Opinion ID: 3011413
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Alleged Error on Liability

Text: The plaintiffs assert that the District Court's liability instruction was inaccurate and misleading and might have caused the jury not to award any damages despite their finding of a Fair Housing Act violation. Though the jury found that Mrs. Riga had discriminated against the Alexanders, the jury found that there was no liability. The Alexanders did not receive a liability verdict because they were unable to prove causation. On the other hand, the FHP did receive a liability verdict; the jury found that there was legal cause as to the FHP caused by Mrs. Riga's discriminatory acts. This is a statutory form of action. The Fair Housing Act provides that [a]n aggrieved person may commence a civil action in an appropriate United States district court or State court not later than 2 years after the occurrence or the termination of an alleged discriminatory housing practice . . . to obtain appropriate relief with respect to such discriminatory housing practice or breach.4 42 U.S.C. _________________________________________________________________ 4. The FHP, a fair housing organization, is an aggrieved person under the statute and is entitled to obtain relief, including punitive damages. 9 S3613(a)(1)(a). The Fair Housing Act definesdiscriminatory housing practice, in pertinent part, as follows:
bona fide offer, or to refuse to negotiate for the sale or rental of, or otherwise make unavailable or deny, a dwelling to any person because of race, color, religion, sex, familial status, or national origin.