WEST PALM BEACH — A fair housing advocacy group is suing a Palm Beach condominium association and property management agency, claiming their policies about how many people can live in their units are discriminatory and violate the Fair Housing Act.
Fair Housing Center of the Greater Palm Beaches, a nonprofit based in Lantana that claims to work to eliminate housing discrimination in Florida, filed its 16-page lawsuit July 13 in the U.S. District Court for Florida's Southern District, West Palm Beach Division. Named defendants in the case are Fontana Properties Condominium Association, RPH Property Management Palm Beach and their directors.
"The defendants have engaged in a pattern or practice of conduct with the effect of discriminating against families, including families with minor children, by enforcing policies and practices that limit the number of persons and children who may reside in condominium units which the defendants own or manage, which is a direct violation of the Fair Housing Act," the lawsuit said. "The defendants have also engaged in a pattern or practice of conduct with the effect of discriminating against families by enforcing unreasonable and restrictive occupancy policies and practices that limit the number of persons allowed to occupy the condominium units in direct violation of the Fair Housing Act."
Fair Housing Center is seeking a declaratory judgment, preliminary and injunctive relief, and damages for alleged discrimination "on the basis of familial status in the provision of housing" under the Civil Rights Act of 1968, the lawsuit said. Fair Housing Center also is asking that defendants be ordered to establish a "Victims' Fund for prospective or former tenants who were and are victims of housing discrimination," in addition to punitive damages, attorneys' fees, costs, and "other relief as this court deems just and equitable," the lawsuit said.
Plaintiffs are requesting a jury trial.
The case was filed on behalf of the Fair Housing Center of the Greater Palm Beaches by West Palm Beach attorney Maxine D. Cheesman under case No. 9:18-cv-80928-RLR.