Opinion ID: 353767
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: amount of benefits available

Text: 36 The District Court ruled that all persons who were tenants of Sky Tower on September 27, 1974, and who vacated their apartments as a result of HUD's notice, were entitled to a prorated portion of the benefits provided under Section 204 of the Act 34 for the period between the date of their move and August 1, 1975 (or the date on which any such person actually returned to Sky Tower, if earlier than August 1, 1975). August 1 was selected as the cut-off date because by that date all former tenants had been given the opportunity to return to Sky Tower pursuant to the preliminary injunction. As we understand the District Court's order, the Act's moving expenses benefit and its requirement that replacement housing be available are fully applicable to appellees; however, under the order appellees are entitled to only a prorated portion of the Act's rent benefits. As noted supra, 35 under the terms of the Act these latter benefits may amount to a maximum of $4000 over a four-year period. Under the District Court's formula, however, these benefits would be limited to approximately $750 per tenant. 37 We believe the trial judge was correct to prorate the benefits to those tenants who actually returned to Sky Tower in the summer of 1975. Their return to their original homes made the provision of money towards rent for comparable replacement housing unnecessary. Indeed such payments could not have been reconciled with the statute. 36 38 We cannot agree, however, that benefits to those tenants who did not choose to return to Sky Towers should terminate on the date they were given leave to return. We can understand the trial judge's disappointment that only 18 of the 55 displaced families chose to return. He felt that the remainder had walked away from what they brought suit for, and now they want money, not housing. 37 But while this reaction is understandable, it overlooks a critical fact the court's issuance of a preliminary injunction did not grant to appellees the right to return to the quiet enjoyment of their homes; rather, it gave them only the limited right to return pendente lite to a half demolished and decimated community which might still have been demolished in the near future. 38 A decision to return would mean giving up new homes found only after arduous search, undergoing the disruption of a second move some nine months after the first, and assuming the very substantial risk of being uprooted yet again should the demolition decision be upheld. 39 The affidavits in the record amply demonstrate that the tenants were motivated by these concerns, not a desire to walk away from the lawsuit. 39 Faced with the uncertainty of the situation, it was not unreasonable for some of the families to decline to return. We hold that the offer to return pendente lite pursuant to the preliminary injunction did not cut off the rights of relocation payments of those tenants who did not return. 40 Accordingly the decision below is 40 Affirmed in part and reversed in part.