United States v. Royalwood Cooperative Apts, Inc. (E.D. Mich.)

On February 18, 2005, a jury returned a verdict of $314,209 ($14,209 in compensatory damages and $300,000 in punitive damages) for the United States and plaintiff-intervenor Joyce Grad in United States v. Royalwood Cooperative Apts., Inc. (E.D. Mich.). The complaint, filed on August 8, 2003, alleged that the defendants violated the Fair Housing Act by refusing to waive a no-pets rule to allow the complainant to keep an emotional support dog in her unit. The case was handled primarily by the U.S. Attorney's Office in Detroit. 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.