IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS
EASTERN DIVISION

SHERRY BLAIR; LEADERSHIP COUNCIL FOR METROPOLITAN OPEN COMMUNITIES,          Plaintiffs, GEORGE MAMMARRAPALLIL

Case No.:03-cv-9147 Judge James B. Moran

____________________________________

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,            Plaintiff, v. GEORGE MAMMARRAPALLIL           Defendant.

Case No: 04-cv-5387 Judge James B. Moran

_______________________________________

CONSENT DECREE

1. INTRODUCTION




On December 18, 2003, Plaintiffs Sherry Blair and the Leadership Council for Metropolitan Open Communities (collectively, "Private Plaintiffs") filed a complaint against George Mammarrapallil claiming that Defendant violated the Fair Housing Act, Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, as amended by the Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988, 42 U.S.C. §§ 3601 et seq. Specifically, Plaintiff Blair alleges that Defendant discriminated against her by refusing to rent an apartment to her, her African-American fiance, and her interracial child - and by imposing more burdensome application procedures on them - on account of their race, in violation of 42 U.S.C. §§ 3604(a) and (b). Plaintiff Leadership Council for Metropolitan Open Communities (hereinafter, "Leadership Council") alleges that Defendant discriminated against its African-American tester by imposing more burdensome application procedures on her because of her race, in violation of 42 U.S.C. § 3604(b), and discriminated against families with children by refusing to rent apartments to them, by imposing improper restrictions on the number of children that could live in an apartment, and by making statements expressing a desire not to rent to families with children, in violation of 42 U.S.C. §§ 3604(a), (b), and (c).

Prior to the filing of their complaints in federal court, Plaintiff Blair and Plaintiff Leadership Council filed complaints with the Department of Housing and Urban Development ("HUD") claiming that George Mammarrapallil discriminated against them in violation of the Fair Housing Act. After investigating the complaints, HUD concluded that it had reasonable cause to believe that Mr. Mammarrapallil had discriminated against the Leadership Council on the basis of race in violation of 42 U.S.C. §§ 3604(a) and (b) ⁽¹⁾; however, Plaintiff Blair voluntarily withdrew her complaint before HUD could make a final determination regarding her allegations against Mr. Mammarrapallil. With respect to the Leadership Council's complaint, HUD issued a Determination of Reasonable Cause and Charge of Discrimination on July 13, 2004, charging Defendant with committing a discriminatory housing practice. On July 16, 2004, the Leadership Council elected to have the charges resolved in federal court, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 3612(a), and the Secretary of HUD authorized the Attorney General to commence a civil action on behalf of the Leadership Council, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 3612(o).

On August 16, 2004, the United States filed its complaint against George Mammarrapallil alleging that he discriminated against the Leadership Council's African-American tester on the basis of race and/or color by making housing unavailable to the African-American tester and offering inferior terms and conditions of rental housing to that tester. The United States claims that these discriminatory acts violate §§ 3604(a) and (b) of the Fair Housing Act, Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, as amended by the Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988, 42 U.S.C. §§ 3601 et seq.

On October 29, 2004, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois consolidated the Private Plaintiff's case and the United States' case.

Private Plaintiffs, the United States, and Defendant desire to avoid costly and protracted litigation and agree that the claims against Defendant should be settled without further litigation or an evidentiary hearing. Therefore, Private Plaintiffs, the United States, and Defendant have agreed to the entry of this Consent Decree.

THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED:

2. JURISDICTION AND SCOPE

1. The Court has subject matter jurisdiction over the claims in the civil action pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331 and 1345, and 42 U.S.C. §§ 3612(o) and 3613.

2. This Consent Decree is a settlement of disputed claims. The Consent Decree is entered into without any admission by Defendant of having engaged in any discriminatory practices proscribed by the Fair Housing Act or any other federal or state statute.

3. RELIEF

INJUNCTION

3. Defendant Mammarrapallil, his employees, partners, agents, successors and assigns, and all those acting in concert or participation with him in the ownership, operation, or management of housing, are hereby enjoined from:

   1. Refusing to rent, or otherwise making unavailable, any dwelling to any person because of the race or color of such person or his or her guest(s), family, or friend(s), in violation of 42 U.S.C. § 3604(a); and

   2. Discriminating in the terms, conditions, or privileges of rental of any dwelling, because of the race or color of any renter or any applicant for rent, or the guest(s), family, or friend(s) of any such renter or applicant, in violation of 42 U.S.C. § 3604(b).

MONETARY COMPENSATION

4. By December 31, 2004, Defendant shall deposit $20,000.00 (twenty-thousand dollars), into an escrow account for the purpose of compensating Plaintiffs. Within five (5) days of this deposit, Defendant shall issue a certified check or trust account check payable to Plaintiff Leadership Council in the amount of $20,000.00 (twenty-thousand dollars) for the benefit of Plaintiffs. By March 1, 2005, Defendant shall deposit an additional $5,000.00 (five-thousand dollars) into an escrow account for the purpose of compensating Plaintiffs. Within five (5) days of this deposit, Defendant shall issue a certified check or trust account check payable to Plaintiff Leadership Council in the amount of $5,000.00 (five-thousand dollars) for the benefit of Plaintiffs. All of the expenses and costs associated with the escrow account shall be borne by Defendant. Payments to Plaintiff Blair shall be pursuant to a side agreement between Plaintiff Leadership Council and Plaintiff Blair.

4. NOTICE

5. Through the attached declaration, see attached Exhibit B, Defendant has represented that he currently does not own, manage, or otherwise operate any residential rental property and has no plans to reenter the business. If within three (3) years of the date of entry of this Consent Decree, Defendant purchases, assumes an ownership interest in, manages, or works at a dwelling that is covered by the proscriptions of the Fair Housing Act, 42 U.S.C. 3604, et seq., Defendant shall notify Plaintiffs in writing within thirty (30) days of such event. Defendant shall state the name of the dwelling that he has purchased, assumed an ownership interest in, or works at; the location of the dwelling; and the nature of Defendant's relationship with the dwelling.

5. DURATION OF CONSENT DECREE

6. This Consent Decree shall remain in effect for three (3) years from the date of its entry by the Court. However, if during that time, Defendant purchases, assumes an ownership interest in, manages, or works at a dwelling that is covered by the proscriptions of the Fair Housing Act, 42 U.S.C. 3604, et seq., Plaintiffs may move this Court to impose additional remedial provisions, including, but not limited to, an order imposing additional injunctive relief or mandating the extension of this Decree.

7. The parties shall employ their best efforts to resolve any differences that arise in the implementation or interpretation of this Consent Decree. In the event that such efforts fail, any party, after meeting-and-conferring with the other parties, may bring the matter to the Court's attention for resolution.

8. In the event of a violation by Defendant of this Consent Decree, any Plaintiff may move this Court to impose any remedy authorized by law or equity, including, but not limited to, an order requiring performance of an act or payment of a fine, an award of damages, and an award of any costs and reasonable attorneys' fees that have been occasioned by the violation or failure to perform.

9. The Court shall retain jurisdiction for the duration of this Consent Decree to enforce the terms of the Decree, after which time the United States' and the Private Plaintiffs' complaint shall be dismissed with prejudice.

FOR PLAINTIFF UNITED STATES:

R. ALEXANDER ACOSTA
Assistant Attorney General
Civil Rights Division

________________________________
TIMOTHY J. MORAN
Deputy Chief
ALBERTO RUISANCHEZ
Attorney
Housing and Civil Enforcement Section
Civil Rights Division
U.S. Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.
Northwestern Building, 7^th Floor
Washington, D.C. 20530
Phone: (202) 305-1291

FOR PLAINTIFF SHERRY BLAIR:

_____________________________________
WILLIAM DORSEY
Katten Muchin Zavis Rosenman
525 W. Monroe Street, Suite 1600
Chicago, IL 60661-3693
Phone: (312) 902-5200

FOR PLAINTIFF LEADERSHIP COUNCIL:

__________________________________
JEFFREY TAREN
Kinoy Taren Geraghty & Potter
224 South Michigan Avenue
Suite 300
Chicago, IL 60604
Phone: (312) 663-5210

FOR DEFENDANT MAMMARRAPALLIL:

____________________________________
16061 South 94^th Avenue
Orland Hills, IL 60477
Phone: (708) 403-7300

---

1. HUD found no reasonable cause to believe that Defendant discriminated against the Leadership Council on the basis of disability or familial status.

---

Entered: February 11, 2005