Recent Court Rulings

Rental Assistance Terminated After Sex Offender Fails to Register

February 1, 2009    

Facts: The Maine State Housing Authority (MSHA) discovered that one of its residents had been convicted of child molestation in Washington State in 1996, but was not registered as a sex offender, as the law requires. The resident had been receiving rental assistance through a voucher he...

Excluding Minors from SROs Promotes Legitimate Interest

February 1, 2009    

Facts: A New York City resident who occupied two single room occupancy (SRO) units with her minor children challenged a local ordinance prohibiting children under 16 from occupying SROs, arguing that the restriction violates the Fair Housing Act. She sued the City of New York on the...

Ohio Owner Not Liable for Failing to Prevent Discrimination

December 24, 2008    

Facts: After a resident at an Ohio assisted site had racially harassed another resident, the owner took no action. The harassed resident sued the site, claiming that the owner was responsible for allowing the harassment to continue. A lower court ruled that the owner could be sued for...

Owner Can Evict Resident for Chronic Late Rent Payments

December 24, 2008    

Facts: A resident of a Delaware assisted site paid her monthly rent late three times in one year. Claiming that chronic late payment was a lease violation, the Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA) sought to evict her. A judicial panel ruled for the resident, stating that the lease...

Lapsed Insurance Policy Negated Flood Claim

December 24, 2008    

Facts: On April 28, 2005, an insurance company notified a Mississippi site owner that her policy had expired on April 25, but could be reinstated without any lapse in coverage if she paid the company $1,464 within 30 days. The owner did not pay on time. Instead, on Aug. 23, 2005, she...