Housing Discrimination Settlement for Disabled Tenant
Author: U.S. Department of Justice
Published: 2009/08/05 - Updated: 2026/02/08
Publication Type: Announcement
Category Topic: Laws and Rights - Related Publications
Contents: Synopsis - Introduction - Main - Insights, Updates
Synopsis: This announcement from the U.S. Department of Justice details a landmark Fair Housing Act settlement against Valley View Apartments in Longview, Washington, where property owners John E. and Shirley L. Price paid $35,000 after refusing a reasonable accommodation request from a tenant with mobility impairment. The case establishes important legal precedent because it demonstrates that even requests from individual disabled tenants must be taken seriously by landlords, and that retaliatory eviction proceedings following accommodation requests violate federal law. People with disabilities, housing advocates, and property managers will find this information particularly valuable as it clarifies the legal obligations under the Fair Housing Act and shows the concrete consequences of denying reasonable accommodations like accessible parking spaces - Disabled World (DW).
Introduction
Disability Based Housing Discrimination Settlement Against Valley View Apartments
Individuals with disabilities have the basic right to expect reasonable accommodations that allow them access to housing. This settlement is a significant award for a case involving housing discrimination against a lone individual, and it should send a strong message to landlords that they must take all requests for reasonable accommodations very seriously.
The Justice Department has announced an agreement with the former owners and managers of Valley View Apartments in Longview, Wash., to settle allegations that they violated the Fair Housing Act by intentionally discriminating against an individual with a disability. Under the settlement, which must be approved by the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, the defendants must pay a total of $35,000 to the complainant.
Main Content
The lawsuit originated from charges filed by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) on behalf of a tenant of Valley View Apartments.
In 2004, the tenant, who has a mobility impairment that limits his ability to enter or exit a car, asked to use two contiguous parking spaces in the apartment complex's lot until a handicap accessible space became available. The complaint alleged that the former owners and managers of the apartments, John E. and Shirley L. Price, violated the Fair Housing Act when they intentionally discriminated against the tenant by refusing his request and by initiating retaliatory eviction proceedings.
The complaint also alleged that the tenant's request was reasonable and necessary to afford him an equal opportunity to use and enjoy his dwelling.
"Individuals with disabilities have the basic right to expect reasonable accommodations that allow them access to housing. This settlement is a significant award for a case involving housing discrimination against a lone individual, and it should send a strong message to landlords that they must take all requests for reasonable accommodations very seriously," said Acting Assistant Attorney General Loretta King of the Civil Rights Division.
"The fact that people continue to be denied housing in the 21st century because of their disability is unacceptable," said John Trasvina, Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. "This conduct has been illegal for more than 20 years, and we intend to enforce the full extent of the law."
The federal Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability or familial status. Individuals who believe that they may have been victims of housing discrimination can call the Housing Discrimination Tip Line.
Insights, Analysis, and Developments
Editorial Note: The Valley View Apartments case stands as a pivotal reminder that housing discrimination based on disability remains an enforceable civil rights violation nearly two decades into the 21st century. What makes this settlement particularly significant is not just the monetary award, but the clear message it sends to property owners nationwide: reasonable accommodation requests cannot be dismissed simply because they come from a single tenant rather than a group complaint. The tenant's simple request for two parking spaces until an accessible spot became available was neither burdensome nor unreasonable, yet the landlords' refusal and subsequent retaliatory eviction attempt revealed exactly the kind of discriminatory mindset the Fair Housing Act was designed to combat. For anyone facing similar barriers to housing access, this case proves that federal protections have teeth, and that both the Justice Department and HUD remain committed to enforcing these rights regardless of the scale of the complaint - Disabled World (DW).Attribution/Source(s): This quality-reviewed publication was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World (DW) due to its relevance to the disability community. Originally authored by U.S. Department of Justice and published on 2009/08/05, this content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity.