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RiverBay Corporation Settles Lawsuit for Violating Fair Housing Act
RiverBay Corporation, the owner and operator of Co-op City, the largest affordable housing cooperative in the United States, has settled a civil rights lawsuit alleging discriminatory assistance animal policy.
According to the lawsuit, RiverBay failed to provide reasonable accommodations to people who require service or assistance animals, in violation of the federal Fair Housing Act. The lawsuit alleges that RiverBay maintained and employed an overly burdensome and intrusive policy governing waivers to its no-pets rule, which has deterred and prevented persons with disabilities from obtaining reasonable accommodations.
The consent decree was approved on June 2, 2015, by U.S. District Court Judge Valerie E. Caproni. As part of the settlement, RiverBay has agreed to enhance accessibility, pay civil penalties, and establish an aggrieved persons fund.
“Assistance animals provide vital support and therapeutic benefits for persons with disabilities,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Vanita Gupta of the Civil Rights Division. “This significant settlement underscores the department’s commitment to ensuring that housing providers make reasonable accommodations for individuals who rely on assistance animals to use and enjoy their homes.”
“Housing providers must allow for reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities, including granting requests to keep assistance or service animals,” said U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara of the Southern District of New York. “Today’s settlement benefits all those who require or may someday require a service or assistance animal, as it ensures that RiverBay will implement a reasonable accommodation policy consistent with the Fair Housing Act and that people who were unlawfully denied full use of their residences will be compensated appropriately.”
RiverBay Corporation is located in the Bronx, New York. The company has approximately 15,372 residential units and 60,000 residents. The lawsuit was filed in federal court and settled simultaneously.
RiverBay Corporation has agreed to pay civil penalties and establish an aggrieved persons fund. The exact amount of the civil penalties was not specified in the press release. However, the settlement is a significant step towards ensuring that housing providers make reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities.
The lawsuit alleges that RiverBay maintained an overly burdensome and intrusive policy governing waivers to its no-pets rule, which has deterred and prevented persons with disabilities from obtaining reasonable accommodations.
The consent decree was approved on June 2, 2015, by U.S. District Court Judge Valerie E. Caproni. As part of the settlement, RiverBay Corporation has agreed to enhance accessibility, pay civil penalties, and establish an aggrieved persons fund.
The settlement is a significant step towards ensuring that housing providers make reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. RiverBay Corporation has agreed to pay civil penalties and establish an aggrieved persons fund. The exact amount of the civil penalties was not specified in the press release.
The lawsuit was filed in federal court and settled simultaneously. RiverBay Corporation is located in the Bronx, New York, and has approximately 15,372 residential units and 60,000 residents.
Key Facts
- State: Federal
- Category: Public Corruption
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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