U.S. Department
of Justice
Housing and Civil Enforcement Cases
ADT LLC d/b/a ADT Security Services
On April 14, 2026, the United States reached a settlement resolving allegations that ADT, LLC, the largest home security services provider in the United States, violated the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) by imposing a 30-day notice requirement on 3,400 servicemembers who terminated their home security contracts early under the SCRA. As part of the settlement, ADT will pay $1,260,000 to compensate the servicemembers and a $79,380 civil penalty to the United States. The settlement also requires ADT to revise its policies, procedures, and training materials to prevent future SCRA violations.
Georgia Professional Licensing Boards
On March 31, 2026, the United States reached a settlement agreement resolving allegations that forty-two Georgia Professional Licensing Boards violated the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) by failing to recognize the out-of-state professional licenses of servicemembers and their spouses. This settlement is the first of its kind and will provide up to $3 million in compensation to servicemembers and military spouses whose applications for licensure were improperly denied or delayed. The settlement also requires the Georgia Boards to adopt new policies that comply with the SCRA and provide a streamlined application process for servicemembers and military spouses who are already licensed in another state.
United States v S & K Towing, Inc (C.D. Cal.)
On March 25, 2026, the United States filed a complaint in United States v. S & K Towing, Inc. (C.D. Cal.) alleging that a towing company headquartered in San Clemente, California violated the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA). The complaint alleges that between August 28, 2020, and April 15, 2025, S & K Towing auctioned or otherwise disposed of approximately 148 vehicles owned by SCRA-protected servicemembers without obtaining court orders.
Press Release - 3/25/2026
United States v. Town of Beekman (S.D.N.Y.)
On March 5, 2026, the United States Attorney’s Office filed a Fair Housing Act pattern or practice complaint in United States v. Town of Beekman (S.D.N.Y.). In the complaint, the United States alleges the Town engaged in disability discrimination by failing to grant a reasonable accommodation to Bunkhouse Recovery Ranch NY, a group home for persons in recovery from drug or alcohol addiction. The Town’s zoning decisions, including a failure to grant a special use permit, have prevented Bunkhouse from operating.
Settlement Agreement - CarMax Inc
On February 23, 2026, CarMax, Inc. agreed to a settlement resolving allegations that it violated the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) by repossessing 28 vehicles owned by SCRA-protected servicemembers without obtaining court orders. As part of the settlement, CarMax must pay at least $420,000 to compensate servicemembers and a $79,380 civil penalty to the United States. The settlement also requires CarMax to revise its policies, procedures, and training materials to prevent future SCRA violations.
United States v Borough of Kingston (M.D. Pa.)
On February 6, 2026, the District Court entered a consent order to resolve the claims in United States v. Borough of Kingston (M.D. Pa.). The complaint, filed February 4, 2026, alleges that the Borough of Kingston (“Kingston”) violated the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA) by enacting and enforcing a 2023 zoning ordinance that treats religious land uses worse than comparable secular uses and unreasonably limit religious land use. Kingston’s zoning ordinance requires that places of worship obtain discretionary special exception use permits, while comparable nonreligious assembly uses are permitted as of right. The ordinance also restricts places of worship to one-acre or more parcels, while no acreage restriction is placed on comparable nonreligious assembly uses. As a result of these restrictions, Kingston’s Orthodox Jewish Chabad community has struggled to find sufficient suitable places for prayer, religious study, religious schools, and mikvahs (ritual baths). The consent order requires Kingston to revise its zoning ordinance to allow places of worship and religious schools as a permitted use in commercial districts and as a special use in residential districts; eliminate the acreage requirements for places of worship and religious schools; and treat places of worship on comparable terms to nonreligious places of assembly with respect to other zoning concerns like parking and landscaping. The consent order also requires Kingston to train its officials and employees on RLUIPA’s requirements, establish a procedure for receiving and resolving RLUIPA complaints, and undertake other injunctive relief.
United States v Hankins (E.D. Mo.)
On January 28, 2026, the parties executed a settlement agreement resolving the claims against the defendants in United States v. Housing Authority of the City of Bloomfield and Eddie Joe Hankins (E.D. Mo.). The United States’ complaint, which was filed on September 30, 2025, alleges that Eddie Joe Hankins sexually harassed a female housing applicant. The United States’ lawsuit also alleges that the Housing Authority of the City of Bloomfield is vicariously liable for the sexual harassment committed by Hankins as their agent. In the settlement agreement, the defendants are required to pay $35,000 to the female housing applicant who was harmed by Hankins’ sexual harassment. The settlement agreement also permanently bars Hankins from contacting the tenant harmed by his harassment and from managing residential rental properties. The settlement agreement also requires the Housing Authority to implement a sexual harassment policy for its rental properties and provide fair housing training for its employees. The case was referred to the Division after the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) received a complaint, conducted an investigation, and issued a charge of discrimination.
United States v William Aaron Asper (E.D. Mich.)
On December 2, 2025, the United States filed a complaint in United States v. William Aaron Asper (E.D. Mich.). The complaint alleges that defendant Asper discriminated because of sex in violation of the Fair Housing Act (FHA) by sexually harassing female tenants of rental properties that he owned or managed. The complaint also names as defendants the William Aaron Asper Irrevocable Living Trust dated August 1, 2005, and REPSA Enterprises, LLC, which owned the rental properties during at least part of the time that Asper sexually harassed female tenants there.
United States v Thomas Ray Kelso and Avatar Investments (E.D. Ark.)
On November 18, 2025, the United States filed a pattern or practice complaint in United States v. Thomas Ray Kelso and Avatar Investments LLC (E.D. AR). The complaint alleges that defendant Kelso discriminated on the basis of sex in violation of the Fair Housing Act (FHA) by engaging in sexual harassment of female tenants of rental properties that he owned and managed. The complaint also names as defendant Avatar Investments LLC, which owned the rental properties during Kelso’s management and sexual harassment of female tenants.
Press Release - 11/18/2025
United States v Housing Authority City of Bloomfield (E.D. MO.)
On September 30, 2025, the United States filed an “election” complaint in United States v. Housing Authority of the City of Bloomfield and Eddie Joe Hankins (E.D. Mo.). The complaint alleges that the defendants discriminated on the basis of sex in violation of the Fair Housing Act (FHA). Specifically, the complaint alleges that Eddie Joe Hankins sexually harassed a female housing applicant. The case was referred to the Division after the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) received a complaint, conducted an investigation, and issued a charge of discrimination.
New City Funding Corp.
On September 29, 2025, New City Funding Corp. agreed to a settlement resolving allegations that it violated the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) by repossessing vehicles owned by SCRA-protected without obtaining court orders. As part of the settlement, New City must pay at least $60,000 to compensate servicemembers and pay a $60,000 civil penalty to the United States. The settlement also requires New City to revise its policies and training to avoid future SCRA violations.
Press Release - 9/29/2025
United States v. Fox, et al. (W.D. Okla.)
On August 18, 2025, the United States filed an “election” complaint in United States v. Fox, et al. (W.D. Okla.) The complaint alleges that the defendants discriminated on the basis of familial status in violation of the Fair Housing Act (FHA) by refusing to rent to the complainant upon learning that she would be living with her then-three-year-old son. The case was referred to the Division after the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) received a complaint, conducted an investigation, and issued a charge of discrimination.