United States v Joy Nourse (D. Idaho)

On October 9, 2024, the United States filed an “election” complaint in United States v. Nourse et al. (D. Idaho).  The complaint alleges that defendants, the managers and owners of Decoy RV Park in Caldwell, Idaho, discriminated based on disability, in violation of the Fair Housing Act.  Specifically, the complaint alleges that defendants refused a reasonable accommodation to a tenant with disabilities by prohibiting her from keeping her assistance dog because it was over fifteen pounds and by charging her a “pet fee.”  The complaint also alleges that the manager made discriminatory statements that defendants would not allow assistance animals that were over fifteen pounds. Finally, the complaint alleges that defendants retaliated against the tenant by evicting her shortly after she requested the accommodation and filed a fair housing complaint against defendants with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).  The case was referred to the Division after HUD received the complaint, conducted an investigation, and issued a charge of discrimination.