Court Opinion

ID: 9570851
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 20:26:56.256413+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:19:11.577941
License: Public Domain

MERRITT, Circuit Judge,
concurring.
I concur in the judgment in this case and in Section IV of Judge Boggs’s opinion. I am not sure whether “disparate impact” analysis can “ever” apply to refusals to enter or remain in Section 8 housing because I am unable to foresee the full spectrum of such cases that could arise in the future. But I agree that there is no valid discrimination case here. The owner apparently became irritated by certain requirements the local housing administrator imposed on him, requirements he apparently regarded as too onerous, time consuming and costly. So he withdrew. This apparently angered the administrator and the Commission, and they accused him of discrimination. This seems to be the underlying situation. The local administrative body should have to show either an intent to discriminate based on race or such a significant racial impact that intent can be inferred or that serious harm to a racial minority is likely to occur. None of these elements are present here.