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APPENDIX D
NOTICE TO POTENTIAL VICTIMS OF HOUSING DISCRIMINATION

On May 26, 2009, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington entered a Consent Decree resolving a lawsuit brought by the United States Department of Justice against certain builders, developers, architects and engineers alleging that they failed to include certain accessible features for persons with disabilities required by the Fair Housing Act, 42 U.S.C. §3604(f)(3)(C), at Rock Creek Apartments, 911 E. Beacon Avenue, Spokane, Washington, Prairie Hills Apartments, 1718 E. Lincoln Road, Spokane, Washington, Granite Court Apartments, 15408 E. 4th Avenue, Spokane Valley, Washington, and Hilby Station Apartments, 5317 S. Palouse Highway #4, Spokane, Washington.

In the lawsuit, the Department of Justice alleged that Rock Creek Apartments, Prairie Hills Apartments, Granite Court Apartments, and Hilby Station Apartments did not comply with the law because, among other things:

  • there are excessively steep walkway and/or steps leading to covered apartment entrances and other public and common use areas;
  • there is insufficient accessible parking;
  • bedroom, bathroom, and walk-in closet doors within some covered apartments are too narrow for passage by persons in wheelchairs;
  • there is insufficient maneuvering space for wheelchairs in kitchens and bathrooms in some covered apartments;
  • thermostats in some covered apartments are mounted too high for wheelchair users; and,
  • there are no grab bar reinforcements in any of the bathrooms in the covered apartments

    • Under this Consent Decree, you may be entitled to receive monetary relief if you or anyone you know:

  • was discouraged from living at Rock Creek Apartments, Prairie Hills Apartments, Granite Court Apartments, or Hilby Station Apartments because of the lack of accessible features;
  • has been hurt in any way by the lack of accessible features;
  • paid to have your apartment made more accessible to persons with disabilities: or
  • was otherwise discriminated against on the basis of disability.

    • If you wish to make a claim for discrimination on the basis of disability, or if you have any information about persons who may have such a claim, please contact the United States Department of Justice at 1-800-896-7743 extension 991. You may also write:

    United States Department of Justice
    Civil Rights Division
    Housing and Civil Enforcement Section
    950 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
    Washington, DC 20530