United States Fourth Circuit

Defendant's final agency order determining that petitioner had committed intentional and egregious violations of the Fair Housing Act (FHA) by discriminating on the basis of disability against potential renters, and ordering petitioner to pay a civil monetary penalty as well as damages for the renter's emotional distress, is affirmed, where: 1) substantial evidence supports the Secretary’s determination that petitioner made discriminatory statements; 2) substantial evidence supports the Secretary's determination that petitioner had imposed written discriminatory conditions upon the renters; and 3) petitioner made no showing that his discriminatory conduct was supported by any objective evidence that the renter posed a direct threat to persons or property, as is required to trigger the "direct threat" exception.

Appellate Information

• Decided 07/05/2013
• Published 07/05/2013

Judges

• DIAZ

Court

• United States Fourth Circuit

Counsel