FHC FILES ANOTHER FEDERAL LAWSUIT AGAINST HOMEOWNER ASSOCIATIONS AND PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANIES FOR HOUSING BIAS AGAINST FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN

The Fair Housing Center of the Greater Palm Beaches, Inc. (FHC) today filed a federal lawsuit against two more Palm Beach County homeowner associations and two property management companies for discrimination on the basis of familial status, in violation of the Fair Housing Act.

The FHC suit alleges that Sonoma Bay Community Homeowners Association, Emanuel Management Services, LLC, Marsh Harbour Maintenance Association, Inc., Prestige Quality Management, LLC, and related entities and individuals discriminate in their policies and practices by unnecessarily and unfairly imposing burdensome requirements and restrictions on families with children.  The lawsuit challenges the use of rental applications that require prospective tenants to submit report cards for persons under the age of 18 years old and rules that impose a sundown curfew on persons under the age of 18, requiring them to be inside or on their patios after sundown.

“Parents should not be required to provide a report card for their children in order to obtain housing, nor should a homeowner’s association dictate whether your children and/or individuals under the age of 18 can be outside after dark,” stated Vince Larkins, FHC President & CEO.  “The suit signals the FHC and its allies determination to fight on for American families, as we celebrate the 46th Anniversary of the historic Fair Housing Act, passed days after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.,” he added.  

The FHC conducted an investigation of these Palm Beach County communities to support the allegations in their complaint.  The plaintiffs are represented by attorneys Janell Byrd and Pia Winston of Mehri & Skalet, PLLC, a Washington, D.C. law firm, and Ayesa Phillips of Ford & Phillips, P.L. in Hollywood, Florida.

Anyone who believes that they may have been discriminated against at Sonoma Bay and Marsh Harbour may contact the FHC’s toll-free hotline at 1-877-910-FAIR or click on File Complaint. Click on the icon above to view WPTV5 news story.