ST. LOUIS -- The United States has brought a lawsuit against an apartment complex to enforce the Fair Housing Act, Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968.
The United States filed a civil action complaint on May 28 in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri against Orchard Village, LLC, Orchard Village, LLC and Michelson Realty Company, LLC for violation of the Fair Housing Act, Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968.
According to the complaint, Majida Hamad lived in the Orchard Village Apartments with her then-minor daughter, Huda Ali, her adult daughter Toqa Ali, and Toqa Ali’s son. Orchard Village provided several amenities including a computer room, movie theater, fitness center, aerobics room, an outdoor pool, and a lounge area, but prohibited anyone under the age of 18 to use the facilities without adult supervision.
Hamad's daughter, 16 and 17 at the time, wanted to do homework on the computer, look for a job and use the workout facility, the suit says. Hamad's daughter used the facilities and allegedly would get kicked out, being told she could not be there without an adult.
On December 12, 2016, Orchard Village staff allegedly sent Hamad a notice stating “It is . . . a lease violation for anyone under the age of 18 to use the amenities without the legal lease holder over the age of 18. . . . If we find that these lease violations continue we will take further action.”
On June 5, 2017, Hamad was sent a termination of tenancy notice and was given 10 days to move out. Hamad and her family moved, but had to continue paying rent until the lease was over, leaving them homeless and unable to afford another place, the suit says. On May 29, 2018, Hamad and Ali timely filed housing discrimination complaints with the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development in which the apartment was found to be violation.
The U.S. seeks the court to find Orchard Village in violation of the Fair Housing Act, Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 and request Hamad be awarded monetary damages.
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri case number 4:21-cv-00620-JAR