United States v. MSM Brothers, Inc. d/b/a White Cliffs at Dover (D. N.H.)

On December 12, 2017, the United States executed a settlement agreement resolving United States v. MSM Brothers, Inc.  (D. N.H.), a Fair Housing Act election case. The complaint, which was filed on July 20, 2017,  alleged that the complainant, a mother of an infant child, visited the White Cliffs at Dover apartments to inquire about two-bedroom apartments, but was told that White Cliffs had a policy of placing families with children under the age of 10 in first floor units only, and that no first floor units were currently available, nor was there room on the waiting list for first floor units.  This policy was corroborated by the New Hampshire Legal Assistance Fair Housing Project. The settlement agreement requires the defendants to pay the complainant $25,000, undergo fair housing training, draft a new non-discrimination policy which complies with the Fair Housing Act, and provide annual reports to the Department.  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.