United States v. Woodlands at Montgomery LP, et al. (S.D. Ga.)

On February 24, 2025, the court entered three consent orders in United States & Vollmer v. Woodlands at Montgomery LP, et al. (S.D. Ga.).  The complaint, which was filed on April 11, 2024, alleged that defendants discriminated against a tenant on the basis of disability in violation of the Fair Housing Act (FHA) by failing to grant her request to transfer to a ground-floor unit and threatening her with an early lease termination fee. The owner, property management company, property manager, housing authority, and relocation company were all defendants in this matter. The case was referred to the Division after the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) received a complaint, conducted an investigation, and issued a charge of discrimination. The consent order with the owner and property manager includes $16,666 in monetary damages for the complainant and $3,334 in attorney’s fees for the complainant’s attorney. The consent orders with the housing authority and relocation company each include $14,167 in monetary damages for the complainant and $3,333 in attorney’s fees for the complainant’s attorney. All three consent decrees also include mandatory fair housing training for current and future employees, an updated reasonable accommodation and modification policy, and a two-year compliance and reporting period.