U.S. Justice Department Files Lawsuit Alleging Disability-Based Housing Discrimination

Author: The U.S. Justice Department
Published: 2019/02/21 - Updated: 2023/10/09
Publication Type: Announcement / Notification
Topic: Lawyers and Rights - Publications List

Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main

Synopsis: Lawsuit alleges defendants Galveston Portfolio and Gartrell failed to design and construct an eight-building addition and associated rental office at Seasons Resort to make them accessible to persons with disabilities. The lawsuit arises from a complaint by a former tenant with physical disabilities who was compelled to move from the property because she could not get from her apartment to the parking area unassisted.

Introduction

Just in from our friends at The U.S. Justice Department : U.S. Justice Department files lawsuit alleging disability-based discrimination in housing in Galveston, Texas.

Focus

The Justice Department today filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against TFT Galveston Portfolio LTD (Galveston Portfolio), the owners of the Seasons Resort, an apartment complex located in Galveston, Texas, as well as against James W. Gartrell Jr., a licensed engineer whose primary place of business is Texas City, Texas.

The lawsuit alleges that defendants Galveston Portfolio and Gartrell failed to design and construct an eight-building addition and associated rental office at the Seasons Resort to make them accessible to persons with disabilities in compliance with the Fair Housing Act (FHA) accessibility requirements and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

"The Department of Justice is committed to eliminating disability-based discrimination in housing," said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband for the Civil Rights Division. "This lawsuit is the latest step in the Department of Justice's efforts to ensure equal accessibility for persons with disabilities, including making multifamily housing FHA compliant."

"The United States Attorney's Office is committed to working with the Civil Rights Division in enforcing the Fair Housing Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act," said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. "We are fully devoted to protecting the rights of persons with disabilities in the Southern District of Texas."

The suit, filed in U.S. District Court in Galveston, Texas, alleges that the eight-building addition and rental office designed and built by the defendants have significant accessibility barriers that inhibit access to the 24 ground-floor units and the associated public and common-use areas at the property.

Those Barriers Include:

As Well As Inaccessible:

The lawsuit arises from a complaint by a former tenant with physical disabilities who was compelled to move from the property because she could not get from her apartment to the parking area unassisted.

The lawsuit seeks a court order prohibiting the defendants from designing or constructing future residential properties in a manner that discriminates against persons with disabilities.

The lawsuit also seeks an order requiring the defendants to bring the portions of the Seasons Resort that they have designed and constructed since 1991 into compliance with the FHA and the ADA, as well as monetary damages for persons harmed by the lack of accessibility.

The Justice Department, through the U.S. Attorney's Offices and the Civil Rights Division, enforces the FHA, which prohibits discrimination in housing based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability and familial status.

Among other things, the FHA requires all multifamily housing constructed after March 12, 1991, to have basic accessibility features, including accessible routes without steps to all ground-floor units.

The full and fair enforcement of the ADA and its mandate to integrate individuals with disabilities is a major priority of the Civil Rights Division.

The ADA protects individuals with disabilities from discrimination in public accommodations, including the rental office at issue in this case.

Individuals who believe that they may have been victims of housing discrimination can call the Justice Department at 1-800-896-7743, email the Justice Department at fairhousing@usdoj.gov, or contact HUD at 1-800-669-9777.

The complaint is an allegation of unlawful conduct. The allegations in the complaint must still be proven in court.

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 The U.S. Justice Department and published on 2019/02/21, this content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity. For further details or clarifications, The U.S. Justice Department can be contacted at justice.gov NOTE: Disabled World does not provide any warranties or endorsements related to this article.

Explore Similar Topics

• : Landmark settlement protects San Diego's unhoused living in vehicles, offering ticket forgiveness, safe parking, and disability accommodations.

• : Supreme Court of NYS denies MTA and the NYC Transit Authority motion to dismiss its case for Equal Fare Discounts, ruling in favor of the plaintiffs.

Citing and References

Founded in 2004, Disabled World (DW) is a leading resource on disabilities, assistive technologies, and accessibility, supporting the disability community. Learn more on our About Us page.

Cite This Page: The U.S. Justice Department. (2019, February 21 - Last revised: 2023, October 9). U.S. Justice Department Files Lawsuit Alleging Disability-Based Housing Discrimination. Disabled World (DW). Retrieved May 23, 2025 from www.disabled-world.com/disability/legal/usjd-hd.php

Permalink: <a href="https://www.disabled-world.com/disability/legal/usjd-hd.php">U.S. Justice Department Files Lawsuit Alleging Disability-Based Housing Discrimination</a>: Lawsuit alleges defendants Galveston Portfolio and Gartrell failed to design and construct an eight-building addition and associated rental office at Seasons Resort to make them accessible to persons with disabilities.

While we strive to provide accurate and up-to-date information, it's important to note that our content is for general informational purposes only. We always recommend consulting qualified healthcare professionals for personalized medical advice. Any 3rd party offering or advertising does not constitute an endorsement.