Crime-ridden North Dakota rental properties are finally facing justice after a federal lawsuit exposed years of blatant disregard for people with disabilities. According to a recent press release, residents at several multifamily residential complexes in West Fargo and Grand Forks have been awarded compensation for the harm they suffered due to a lack of accessible features.
Hampton Corporation Inc. and several other individuals and entities were named in the lawsuit, which alleged that they violated the Fair Housing Act (FHA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by failing to design and construct accessible properties. The defendants have agreed to contribute to a settlement fund totaling $120,000 for people who suffered harm due to the lack of accessible features at the properties.
The properties included in the settlement agreement are located in West Fargo and Grand Forks and include Townhomes at Charleswood, Steeples Apartments, South Hampton Townhomes, Carrington Court Townhouse Apartments, and the rental office serving Carrington Court Townhouse Apartments, South Hampton Townhomes, and Steeples Apartments.
Residents who suffered harm due to the lack of accessible features at these properties have been awarded compensation from a $120,000 settlement fund. The defendants are also required to correct inaccessible features in the common areas of the properties and within the individual units, including removing steps, installing handrails on ramps, and retrofitting bathrooms to make them accessible for wheelchair users.
The lawsuit was filed in March 2020 by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of North Dakota, and the settlement was reached after the defendants agreed to contribute to a settlement fund. The Justice Department enforces the Fair Housing Act, which prohibits discrimination in housing based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, familial status, and disability.
According to Assistant United States Attorney Tara Iversen, the people receiving compensation were harmed by accessibility violations in profound ways. Steps leading up to apartment building entrances forced some to use unsafe, homemade ramps to get into their homes, or rely on others to lift them and their wheelchair over a step. Narrow doorways led some residents using walkers or wheelchairs to remove interior bathroom and bedroom doors entirely. Some individuals suffered real physical injury related to inaccessible features.
The defendants have attended fair housing training and agreed that any future housing they design or construct will comply with the FHA. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Civil Rights Division will continue to enforce the Fair Housing Act and ensure that people with disabilities have equal access to housing.
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Key Facts
- State: North Dakota
- Category: Public Corruption|White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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