
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff,
v.
Civil Action Number: 396 CV 01118 (AHN)
HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE TOWN
OF MILFORD, and CITY of
MILFORD,
Defendants.
____________________________________
NAACP, et al.,
Plaintiff,
v.
HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE TOWN
OF MILFORD, et al.,
Defendants.
____________________________________
SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT
The United States, the private plaintiffs, the Housing
Authority of the Town of Milford, Keith Rubenstein and George
Ronkowitz (the last three are hereinafter referred to as "the MHA") enter into this Settlement Agreement to resolve the above-captioned lawsuits.
The parties further enter into this Settlement Agreement to ensure that low-income and minority
citizens gain the benefits of subsidized housing provided by the
MHA as quickly as practicable. Under the terms of this
Settlement Agreement, the MHA will develop and implement plans to
acquire, acquire and rehabilitate, and/or develop twenty-eight
low-income public housing units for use by eligible persons.
The parties believe that this Settlement Agreement furthers
both the purposes of the federal Fair Housing Act, 42 U.S.C.
§§3601 et seq., and the MHA's core mission. The parties also
agree that their mutual interests, as well as the interests of
low-income and minority citizens, will be served by working
cooperatively to ensure that both the letter and spirit of this
Settlement Agreement are realized. In undertaking their efforts
to achieve this goal, the parties recognize that the MHA is
primarily responsible for the development and management of low-income public housing in
Milford.
This Consolidated Action stems from the MHA's cancellation
of a federally-subsidized scattered site housing program in
September 1995. The "private plaintiffs," who are the NAACP New
Haven Branch, Beverly McDonald, Anthony Carter, Pamela Denson and
Anita Horne, filed their lawsuit in June 1996. The United States
filed its lawsuit in April 1997. The two lawsuits were
consolidated by Order of this Court on June 26, 1997. In the
Consolidated Action, the United States and the private plaintiffs
essentially allege that the actions taken by the MHA and the City
of Milford which resulted in the cancellation of the scattered
site housing program violated the Fair HousingAct because a
significant proportion of the persons anticipated to benefit from
the program were African-American or Hispanic. The MHA has
denied these allegations and maintains that they are without
merit.
The parties desire to avoid the expense, uncertainties,
inconvenience, and distraction of additional contested litigation
and, as indicated by the signatures below, agree that the portion
of the Consolidated Action involving them shall be resolved by
the terms of this Settlement Agreement. Further, the parties
believe that the benefits to be derived from this Settlement
Agreement warrant the compromise of their respective claims.
Nothing in this Agreement, taken in whole or in part, represents
in any way an admission of liability or responsibility by the MHA
or any of its directors, officers, agents or employees regarding
any of the claims advanced by plaintiffs. Similarly, nothing in
this Agreement, taken in whole or in part, represents the
compromise of claims brought by the United States or private
plaintiffs in the Consolidated Action against any persons or
entities who are not parties to this Settlement Agreement.
The parties to this Settlement Agreement also note that the
MHA and the United States Department of Housing and Urban
Development ("HUD"), which is not a party to the Consolidated
Action, have entered into a Letter of Agreement as of this date.
Under its terms, HUD makes certain commitments in support of this
Settlement Agreement and acknowledges that the Settlement
Agreement is fully consistent with HUD policies and guidelines.
Further, HUD represents that it expects to approve promptly the
Plan submitted by the MHA pursuant to Section II of this
Settlement Agreement and that it shall then promptly release all
funds it has withheld from the MHA.
This Settlement Agreement does not impose any legal
obligations upon the MHA other than those already existing or
specifically contained herein. Accordingly, the MHA will be
allowed to take any action or position that does not violate the
terms of this Settlement Agreement or any law or regulation.
Additionally, this Settlement Agreement is premised on the
parties' assumption that HUD will continue to provide the MHA
with operating subsidies sufficient to maintain its federal low-income public housing
units -- including those acquired, acquired
and rehabilitated, and/or developed hereunder -- in decent, safe
and sanitary condition. In the unlikely event that Congress
takes action which eliminates or significantly reduces such
subsidies, the parties agree that, as contemplated by the
preceding paragraph, the MHA may take any lawful action that is
consistent with this Agreement in order to obtain the funding it
needs to maintain its federal low-income public housing units in
decent, safe and sanitary condition.
THEREFORE, based upon these understandings and commitments,
the undersigned parties jointly enter into this Settlement
Agreement and, in so doing, agree as follows:
- OVERALL OBJECTIVE AND DEFINITIONS
- The purpose of this Settlement Agreement is to provide
quality, affordable rental housing in Milford to low-income
families in need of such housing. To that end, the MHA will
utilize the funds HUD has allocated under Projects CT26-P030-008
and CT26-P030-009to acquire, acquire and rehabilitate, and/or
develop twenty-eight subsidized housing units for families, or,
if these funds proveinsufficient to permit acquisition and/or
development of the full complement of twenty-eight such units,
the maximum number of units that can be acquired, acquired and
rehabilitated, and/or developed with these funds.
- For the purposes of this Settlement Agreement, the
following definitions shall apply:
- "Scattered site housing unit" refers to a single family
home or any unit within a duplex or quadraplex that may
be acquired, acquired and rehabilitated, or constructed
on a currently properly zoned site and that is appropriate for occupancy by families
of two or more persons pursuant to applicable HUD regulations.
- "Housing unit" refers to a single family home or any
unit within a residential housing complex which
contains more than one unitthat may be acquired,
acquired and rehabilitated, or constructed and that is
appropriate for occupancy by families of two or more
persons pursuant to applicable HUD regulations. This
term includes a subsidized housing unit within a
multifamily housing complex which contains units rented
at the market rate and/or other non-subsidized housing
units.
- "Subsidized housing unit" refers to any federal low-income public housing unit that the MHA owns and/or
operates and, consistent with HUD regulations
applicable to low-income public housing, makes
available for rental at an affordable rate to eligible
low-income families.
- THE MHA'S PLAN FOR ACQUISITION AND/OR DEVELOPMENT
- Within ninety (90) days from the date of approval of
this Settlement Agreement, the MHA shall submit to HUD a plan for
the acquisition, acquisition and rehabilitation, and/or
development of twenty-eight subsidized housing units for families
("Plan"). At least five business days before submitting the Plan
to HUD, the MHA will provide a copy of the Plan to the United
States Department of Justice ("DOJ") so that DOJ can ensure that
the Plan is consistent with the terms of this Settlement
Agreement.(1)
- The Plan shall commit the MHA to acquire, acquire and
rehabilitate, and/or develop and have ready for occupancy:
- seven (7) scattered site housing units within one
(1) year from the date on which HUD approves the
Plan ("Date of HUD approval");
- seven (7) additional housing units within two (2)
years from the date of HUD approval; and
- fourteen (14) additional housing units within
three (3) years from the date of HUD approval.
The Plan will contain a schedule of intermediate dates for
activities such as site identification, site selection, and unit
inspections, that shall be sufficient to enable compliance with
the deadlines set forth above. None of the housing to be
acquired, acquired and rehabilitated, and/or developed under the
Plan shall be designated for limited occupancy pursuant to 24
C.F.R. Part 945.
- The Plan shall also incorporate the following
provisions:
- Size of Housing Units: The MHA intends that the
housing units to be acquired, acquired and
rehabilitated, and/or developed under the Plan
will be of sufficient size to accommodate low-income families who have applied or are expected
to apply for subsidized housing and who are unable
to reside in the MHA's existing subsidized housing
units. To that end, the housing units to be
acquired, acquired and rehabilitated, and/or
developed under the Plan will contain no less than
two bedrooms and will include at least fourteen
(14) housing units containing three (3) or more
bedrooms;
- Family Self-Sufficiency Participation: The MHA
intends that twenty-one (21) of the twenty-eight
(28) units acquired, acquired and rehabilitated,
and/or developed under the Plan shall be occupied
by households agreeing to participate in the MHA's
Family Self-Sufficiency Program. The Plan will
explain the mechanism by which the MHA intends to
meet that goal consistent with HUD regulations.
The MHA may include in the Plan other information required by HUD
or intended to explain further its intended actions.
- Mixed Income Projects: If the MHA elects to acquire,
acquire and rehabilitate, and/or develop properties that include
non-subsidized housing units:
- only the subsidized housing units therein shall be
counted toward compliance with the provisions set
forth in ¶4;
- the MHA shall not utilize any funds made available
by HUD pursuant to Project CT26-P030-008 and CT26-P030-009 for the costs associated
with the non-subsidized housing units; and
- the MHA shall otherwise comply with HUD
regulations applicable to mixed-income
developments.
- IMPLEMENTATION OF MHA PLAN
- As of the date of HUD approval, the MHA shall promptly
pursue, and make every reasonable effort to bring to fruition at
the earliest possible time, the opportunities for acquisition,
acquisition and rehabilitation, and/or development ofhousing
units as set forth in the Plan. The MHA may obtain input from
other interested persons and may consider legitimate and
objective concerns about any acquisition, acquisition-rehabilitation or development opportunity, but the MHA shall not
fail to pursue, or fail to bring to fruition, any acquisition,
acquisition-rehabilitation or development opportunity due to
illegitimate opposition by any person or entity whose approval is
not legally required for such acquisition, acquisition and
rehabilitation, or development to occur. In determining whether
and how to pursue any acquisition, acquisition-rehabilitation or
development opportunity, the MHA may take into account legitimate
and reasonable concerns expressed by a person or entity whose
approval is legally required to bring to fruition such an
opportunity.
- In implementing the Plan, the MHA shall use open,
competitive, and appropriate procurement procedures as required
by 24 C.F.R. Part 85.
- The parties understand that the process of public
housing acquisition, acquisition and rehabilitation, and/or
development is a complex one and that delays in this process may
be caused by unanticipated conditions related to the housing
market in Milford which are beyond the control of any party to
this Settlement Agreement. Such unanticipated conditions might
include, for example, the temporary unavailability of housing at
or below the maximum allowabletotal development costs ("TDC")
established by HUD. If any such conditions cause or can
reasonably be expected to cause the MHA to be unable to comply
withthe time frames set forth in the Plan pursuant to ¶4(a), the
MHA shall promptly seek the plaintiffs' approval for modification
of such time frames. The plaintiffs shall in good faith review
any such request and shall not unreasonably withhold their
approval. In the event that approval is unreasonably withheld,
the MHA may apply to the Court for an extension of the time
frames pursuant to the procedure set forth in ¶43.
- If, due to unanticipated conditions related to the
housing market in Milford, the MHA comes to believe that the Plan
cannot be implemented as set forth therein, the MHA may seek to
reformulate the Plan consistent with HUD regulations set forth in
24 C.F.R. Part 941 and supporting guidelines. At least fifteen
(15) days before seeking such reformulation, the MHA shall inform
DOJ and counsel for the private plaintiffs in writing of its
intended request and explain the basis for it.
- The MHA shall maintain all records regarding its
efforts to implement the Plan. These records shall be made
available pursuant to Section V of this Agreement.
- APPLICATION, ELIGIBILITY AND ADMISSION CRITERIA
- The MHA will select families to occupy the housing
units acquired, acquired and rehabilitated, and/or developed
under the Plan in an objective, non-discriminatory manner
according to appropriate eligibility and screening criteria. In
so doing, the MHA will use the guidelines set forth below, many
of which are also contained in its Admissions and Continued
Occupancy Plan ("ACOP").
- Beginning the first Monday at least sixty (60) days
after the date of HUD approval, and continuing thereafter for the
remainder of the five-day business week, the MHA will accept pre-applications for
residency in its subsidized housing units for
families, including the subsidized housing units to be acquired
and/or developed under the Plan (collectively, "subsidized housing units for families"). This period constitutes the "First Application Period." Approximately twelve (12) months following the conclusion of the First Application Period, and approximately once every twelve (12) months thereafter for the duration of this Agreement, the MHA will hold additional five-day Application
Periods, during which it will similarly accept pre-applications
for residency in its subsidized housing units for families.
- The MHA shall publish advertisement notices concerning
the First and subsequent Application Periods in accordance with
¶29 of this Settlement Agreement. In addition to the information
required by that Paragraph, the final such notice published prior
to each Application Period shall contain a blank pre-application
form. At least one week prior to each Application Period, the
MHA shall also deliver, by first class mail, notices containing
blank pre-application forms to social service agencies in Milford
and surrounding municipalities.
- Any person who wishes to apply for residency in the
MHA's subsidized housing units for families must complete and
mail a pre-application to a specifically designated address at
the MHA during an Application Period. Pre-applications shall be
submitted by mail only, except that reasonable accommodations
shall be made for individuals whose disabilities make mailing
impracticable. All pre-applications must be post-marked within
an Application Period and received by the MHA no later than
fourteen (14) days after the close of an Application Period. The
MHA will not consider any pre-application not post-marked and
received accordingly. If an individual submits more than one
pre-application during an Application Period, the MHA will not
consider any of the pre-applications he or she submitted for that
Period, and he or she will be ineligible for the MHA's subsidized
housing units for families until the following Application
Period.
- All envelopes containing pre-applications shall remain
sealed and shall be placed in a secure location until fifteen
(15) days after the close of an Application Period. On said
fifteenth day, the MHA shall conduct a Lottery to determine which
pre-applicants may be considered for residency in its subsidized
housing units for families. Specifically, the MHA shall draw at
random, from among all pre-applications, a specific number of
timely submitted pre-applications which it determines, in its
discretion, to be sufficient to establish a family public housing
Waiting List that will not be exhausted prior to the subsequent
Application Period.
- Within three weeks after the Lottery is held, the MHA
shall notify all pre-applicants selected in the Lottery that they
have been selected. The notice shall invite these selected pre-applicants to
the offices of the MHA to complete an application
for low-income family public housing and provide any additional
information which will help determine their eligibility for such
housing. Selected pre-applicants must complete these
applications and provide this information in person at the MHA's
offices, except that reasonable accommodations shall be made for
selected pre-applicants whose disabilities make coming to the MHA
impracticable. Selected pre-applicants who complete an
application ("applicants") will be screened by the MHA to
determine whether they meet the MHA's Eligibility and Selection
Criteria, which are contained in the ACOP. Applicants who meet
those Criteria will be placed on the Waiting List in the order in
which they were drawn in the Lottery, and according to the
additional guidelines set forth in the ACOP and in ¶¶20 - 22
below. The MHA will apply its Selection Criteria in a non-discriminatory manner
to assess the willingness and ability of
applicants to comply with essential lease provisions, including,
but not limited to:
- paying rent and other charges in a timely manner;
- appropriately caring for the unit and common
areas;
- not interfering with the rights and peaceful
enjoyment of others; and
- not engaging in criminal activity (including drug-related criminal activity)
that threatens the
health, safety, or right to peaceful enjoyment of
other residents or staff.
- Selected pre-applicants who do not properly complete an
application or who do not satisfy the MHA's Eligibility and
Selection Criteria will not be placed on the Waiting List and
will not be considered for residency in the MHA's subsidized
housing units for families. As provided in the ACOP, these pre-applicants will have
a right to an informal hearing.
- The advertisement notice required by ¶14 shall include
language indicating that selected pre-applicants will be notified
of their selection no more than three weeks after the Lottery,
and that non-selected pre-applicants will not be notified of
their non-selection. Accordingly, non-selected pre-applicants
will not receive notification, following the Lottery, that their
pre-applications were not selected.
- In addition to being placed on the Waiting List
according to the order in which their pre-applications are drawn
in the Lottery, applicants who satisfy the MHA's Eligibility and
Screening Criteria will be ranked on the Waiting List within
three general categories, as provided in the ACOP:
- Families with at least one federal preference and at
least one ranking preference;
- Families with at least one federal preference but no
ranking preference; and
- Families without any federal preference (ranking
preference immaterial).
Consistent with this Section and the ACOP, applicants with both a
federal preference and a ranking preference shall assume a higher
position on the Waiting List than applications with only a
federal preference.
- The "federal preferences" referred to in the preceding
paragraph are set forth at 24 C.F.R. Part 5, Subpart D. They
confer priority upon: (1) families who are homeless or living in
substandard housing; (2) families who are or will be
involuntarily displaced; and (3) families who pay more than 50%
of their income for rent and utilities. Applicants who qualify
for one federal preference will not receive less of a preference
than applicants who qualify for more than one such preference,
but will instead enjoy the same preference status as those
applicants.
- The "ranking preferences" referred to in ¶20 confer
priority upon applicants with at least one federal preference who
(1) live, work or have been hired to work in Milford, or (2) are
members of families having an adult member who is employed, or
who cannot be employed because of age or disability. Applicants
who qualify for one "ranking preference" will not receive less of
a preference than applicants who qualify for more than one
ranking preference, but will instead enjoy the same preference
status as those applicants.
- Families on the MHA's currently existing family public
housing waiting list shall assume positions at the top of the
Waiting List, in the order in which they are ranked on the
currently existing list.
- As housing units acquired, acquired and rehabilitated,
and/or developed under the Plan or other of the MHA's subsidized
housing units for families become available for occupancy, the
MHA will offer such units alternately, on a one-for one-basis, to
applicants with a federal preference and applicants without a
federal preference in the order of their positions on the Waiting
List. Immediately prior to offering a unit to an applicant on
the Waiting List, the MHA will again screen that applicant
according to its Screening and Eligibility Criteria to ensure
that the applicant remains eligible for residency in the MHA's
subsidized housing units for families. Any applicant on the
Waiting List who declines to accept an offered housing unit shall
be moved to the end of the Waiting List, as set forth in the
ACOP.
- Any applicant who is placed on the Waiting List after
one Application Period but not offered a housing unit by the MHA
prior to the subsequent Application Period(s) will be asked, at
least four weeks prior to such subsequent Application Period(s),
to provide written confirmation that he or she wishes to remain
on the Waiting List. Every such applicant who provides such
written confirmation at least two weeks prior to the beginning of
the subsequent Application Period(s) shall retain his or her
place on the Waiting List, shall retain a higher rank on the
Waiting List than any applicant placed on the Waiting List
following the subsequent Application Period(s), and shall
accordingly be offered a housing unit prior to any applicant
placed on the Waiting List following such subsequent Application
Period(s).
- The parties to this Settlement Agreement agree that, as
written, the procedures and guidelines set forth in this Section
and in ¶5 are fair and legal and comply with all applicable laws
and regulations. However, each party reserves its right, after
sufficient time has elapsed, to evaluate the manner in which such
procedures and guidelines operate in practice and to revise or
request revision of these procedures to ensure compliance with
all applicable laws and regulations. The parties shall work in
good faith in the event that a request for revision is made and
shall use the procedures set forth in Section VIII of this
Settlement Agreement to resolve any dispute.
- This Agreement only contains guidelines regarding the
procedures for applying for and being selected to reside in the
MHA's subsidized housing units for families. It does not contain
all of the specific provisions that will govern such application
and selection procedures. Each such specific provision will be
set forth in the Plan.
- ADVERTISING, AFFIRMATIVE MARKETING AND OUTREACH
- The MHA will undertake the outreach efforts set forth
in this Section to publicize in Milford and in surrounding
municipalities the new subsidized housing units being acquired,
acquired and rehabilitated, and/or developed under the Plan.
- Thirty (30) days after the date of HUD approval, and
once each week thereafter for the next three weeks, the MHA will
place an advertisement concerning its subsidized housing units
for families in the news sections of each of following
publications: (a) New Haven Register; (b) Connecticut Post (c)
Milford Mirror; and (d) such other publications as the parties
agree upon. The MHA will place a similar advertisement
concerning these housing units in the news sections of each of
these publications once each week for the four weeks preceding
all subsequent Application Periods. Each such advertisement
will:
- prominently display the fair housing logo;
- set forth the dates of the pertinent Application Period
and explain when, where and how prospective applicants
will be required to submit pre-applications;
- describe the Lottery, eligibility criteria, the intake
and screening process for selected pre-applicants, and
the ranking procedures governing the Waiting List; and
- describe, if possible, the housing units being made
available under the Plan by size, type and location.
As required by ¶14, the last advertisement appearing in each of the above-designated publications prior to an Application Period shall also contain a blank pre-application form which persons seeking residency in the MHA's subsidized housing units for
families may clip, fill out and mail to the MHA pursuant to the
provisions of Section III of this Agreement.
- To ensure that persons with disabilities have equal
opportunity to live in the MHA's subsidized housing units for
families, those units will comply with the Fair Housing Act,
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and HUD's accessibility
guidelines set forth in 24 C.F.R. Part 40 and 24 C.F.R. Part
100.205. Additionally, the MHA will undertake outreach efforts
to private and public agencies serving persons with disabilities
and will ensure that the admissions process for residency in the
MHA's subsidized housing units for families is fully accessible
to and usable by such persons.
- MONITORING, REPORTING, AND RECORD-KEEPING
- Three months after the date of HUD approval, six months after the date of HUD approval, and thereafter every six months for the duration of this Settlement Agreement, the MHA will submit a progress report to plaintiffs' counsel. Each progress
report will include: (a) a description of the efforts made to
acquire, acquire and rehabilitate, and/or develop subsidized
housing units for families, as set forth in the Plan, since the
previous report was submitted or, for the initial report, since
the Settlement Agreement was approved ("the reporting period");
(b) a description of the affirmative marketing and outreach
efforts undertaken pursuant to Section IV of this Agreement
during the reporting period; (c) a report on the tenanting of any
housing units acquired, acquired and rehabilitated, and/or
developed under the Plan during the reporting period; and (d)
information from the Waiting Lists showing applicants added and
offers made, accepted, and rejected during the reporting period.
- At any time during the term of this Agreement, the
United States and private plaintiffs' counsel, upon reasonable
notice to the MHA, may review any documents within the
possession, custody or control of the MHA which arise out of or
concern the implementation of this Settlement Agreement,
including, but not limited to, the Waiting List, applications for
residency in the MHA's subsidized housing units for families, any
materials relating to the acquisition, acquisition and
rehabilitation, or development of housing units under the Plan,
and any documents reflecting communications between the MHA and
entities whose approval is legally required for the acquisition,
acquisition and development, and/or development of housing under
the Plan.
- Plaintiffs may designate a consultant, at their own
expense, to conduct periodic reviews of the MHA's efforts to
acquire, acquire and rehabilitate, and/or develop housing units
under the Plan and otherwise comply with the terms of this
Settlement Agreement. The MHA will cooperate with such reviews,
and any reports by the consultant will be shared with all parties
to this Settlement Agreement.
- ADDITIONAL OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES
- The MHA will comply with all civil rights laws, whether
state or federal, and all HUD program and fair housing
requirements, as contained in the Housing Act of 1937 and Title
24 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
- All agents and employees of the MHA whose
responsibilities include the review and selection of tenants for
housing units provided by the MHA ("MHA Personnel") shall
complete a program of educational training concerning their
responsibilities under the Fair Housing Act and other civil
rights laws. This program shall be conducted by a person or
organization mutually agreed upon by the parties; alternatively,
MHA Personnel shall attend regularly scheduled programs and/or
seminars run by a person or organization agreeable to all
parties. Any member of the Board of Commissioners may, at the
Board's discretion, participate in such educational program. The
MHA shall maintain a written record of all MHA Personnel and
Commissioners who participate in such program.
- The MHA certifies that this Agreement has been read by
its Commissioners, executive director, family public housing
manager, and all other agents or employees whose duties are or
will be in any way affected by it. Additionally, the MHA shall
make a copy of this Agreement available to any agent or employee
hired after the date it is entered by the Court and shall further
ensure that it is read by any such new agent or employee whose
duties will be affected by it.
- In the event that any funds remain unexpended after the
MHA has completed all activities required under the Plan, the MHA
shall use such remaining funds in a manner consistent with HUD
regulations and the objective of this Settlement Agreement as set
forth in ¶1.
- RESOLUTION, PRIVATE PLAINTIFFS' RELIEF, RELEASE OF CLAIMS
- This Settlement Agreement resolves all of the United
States' claims against the MHA arising out of, or related to, the
MHA's cancellation of the scattered site housing program in
September 1995.
- If, within fourteen (14) days after the close of the
First Application Period, the MHA receives from plaintiffs
Denson, McDonald and/or Carter any pre-application post-marked
within that Period, such pre-application shall be treated in the
same manner as all other applications, as set forth in ¶¶ 15 -
- Plaintiffs Denson, McDonald and Carter shall be accorded the
same treatment as any other individual who submits a pre-application post-marked
within the First Application Period.
- Within five (5) days of the date of approval of this
Agreement by the Court, the MHA shall pay to private plaintiffs
the sum of one dollar ($1.00) plus other valid consideration.
Once this sum has been paid, except for any claim which may arise
out of acts, failures to act, or other conduct occurring after
the date of entry of this Agreement by the Court, and subject to
the rights of all undersigned parties to enforce this Agreement
through the Court, the NAACP-New Haven Branch, Beverly McDonald,
Anthony Carter, Pamela Denson, Anita Horne, and the MHA mutually
release and forever discharge any and all grievances, suits,
causes of action, and claims of any nature whatsoever, legal,
equitable or administrative, whether known or unknown, that were
or could have been asserted in this action or that were or are in
any way related to the claims and defenses asserted in this
action. These include, but are not limited to, claims for
damages (both compensatory and punitive), fines, attorneys' fees,
and costs, as well as any and all other such charges, causes of
action, complaints or claims which are based on actions, facts,
occurrences or failures to act prior to the time of the date of
entry of this Agreement.
- Other than as stated above, all parties shall bear
their own costs and fees.
- DISPUTE RESOLUTION AND TERMINATION
- This Agreement is effective immediately upon its entry
by the Court, and the Court will have continuing jurisdiction
over this matter until each provision of this Agreement has been
fully satisfied.
- The parties will endeavor in good faith to resolve
informally any difference regarding interpretation of or
compliance with this Agreement prior to bringing such matter to
the Court for resolution. Specifically, in the event of any
alleged noncompliance with this Agreement by any of the parties
hereto, the party alleging such non-compliance shall give written
notice thereof to all other parties. The notice shall
specifically set forth the facts supporting the allegations.
Within thirty (30) days of receiving the notice, the allegedly
non-complying party shall either remedy the alleged non-compliance and provide
written notice of such remedy to all other
parties, or shall provide a written position statement concerning
the alleged non-compliance to all parties. In the event that the
latter occurs, the parties shall immediately thereafter attempt
to resolve their dispute through negotiation. If the dispute is
not resolved within thirty (30) days after submission of the
written position statement, any party may move the Court to
impose any remedy authorized by law or equity, including
enforcement of any of the provisions of this Agreement.
- After all provisions of this Agreement have been
satisfied, the MHA shall notify the court and private plaintiffs
of the same in writing. Upon the court's receipt of such written
notification, this Agreement shall terminate and the Consolidated
Action shall be dismissed with prejudice with respect to the MHA,
unless, within ten days after receiving such notification, the
United States or private plaintiffs file a motion objecting to
such dismissal. Any such motion must specify with particularity
the reasons for the objection and any ground for claiming that
the MHA has not fully satisfied the terms of this Agreement.
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED this ______ day of ____________, 1998.
______________________________
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT JUDGE
The undersigned parties consent to and request that the
Court enter this Settlement Agreement as its own Order.
FOR DEFENDANT MHA:
JAMES G. WILLIAMS
ROBERT J. FLANAGAN, JR.
Cella, McKeon & Williams, P.C.
P.O. Box 221
21 Washington Avenue
North Haven, CT 06473-0221
(203)239-5851
FOR PLAINTIFF UNITED STATES:
BRIAN F. HEFFERNAN
SETH ROSENTHAL
JE YON JUNG
Attorneys
U.S. Department of Justice
Civil Rights Division
Housing and Civil Enforcement Section
P.O. Box 65998
Washington, DC 20035-5998
(202) 514-4713
STEPHEN ROBINSON
United States Attorney
District of Connecticut
157 Church Street
23rd Floor
New Haven, CT
(203) 821-3700
FOR PRIVATE PLAINTIFFS:
PHILIP D. TEGELER
Connecticut Civil Liberties Union Foundation
32 Grand Street
Hartford, CT 06106
SHELLEY WHITE
New Haven Legal Assistance
426 State Street
New Haven, CT 06510-2018
(203) 946-2811
1. Information to be submitted to the United States Department
of Justice shall be sent to:
Chief, Housing and Civil Enforcement Section
United States Department of Justice
POB 65998
Washington, D.C. 20035-5998