United States v. City of Fort Worth (N.D. Tex.)

On March 7, 2016, the court entered a consent decree in United States v. City of Fort Worth (N.D. Tex.), a case alleging discrimination on the basis of disability in violation of  the Fair Housing Act and Americans with Disabilities Act based on the City’s failure to grant a reasonable accommodation to Ebby’s Place, a group home for persons recovering from drug and alcohol addiction. The complaint, filed on February 22, 2015, originated as a HUD referral.  The consent decree requires the City to pay $135,000 to the sober home in monetary relief and a $10,000 civil penalty.  The City also agreed to standard injunctive relief, including fair housing training and reporting during of the consent decree, and passed a City ordinance adopting a reasonable accommodation policy.