United States v. Gainfort (W.D. Pa.)

On November 14, 2022, after a four-day jury trial, the jury returned a verdict in favor of the United States on its claim that the defendants interfered with the complainants’ exercise of a right protected by the Fair Housing Act (FHA) in United States v. Gainfort (W.D. Pa.).  The jury awarded a total of $3,750 in monetary damages to the complainants.  The complaint, which was filed on December 15, 2020, alleged that the defendants, LRG Rentals and Lewis R. Gainfort, discriminated on the basis of disability by refusing to grant a reasonable accommodation to allow complainants (a mother and her son) to keep an assistance animal, and terminating their tenancy on the ground that the son’s assistance animal violated their “no pets” policy.  The case was referred to the Division after the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) received a complaint, conducted an investigation, and issued a charge of discrimination.