Landmark ERC Cases

Accessible Design and Construction: ERC v Archstone-Smith Trust

To date, the largest settlement of a lawsuit challenging defects in the design and construction of multi-family housing under the Fair Housing Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Access to Healthcare: ERC v Washington Hospital Center

Landmark settlement was one of the first of its kind to address a new issue in disability rights -- access to hospital facilities and equipment for patients with mobility impairments and other disabilities.

Access to Transportation: ERC v Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA)

Class action settlement ensured improved paratransit services to more than 17,000 people with disabilities in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.

Standing to Sue: Spann v Colonial Village; Williams v Poretsky; FEC v BMC Marketing

Won decisions establishing the standing of civil rights organizations to sue under the Fair Housing Act and Title VII.

Condominium Liability: Reeves v Carrollsburg

Won decision establishing liability of condominium association for racial and sexual harassment of condo owner by fellow owner.

Familial Status Discrimination: Mohammed v Carlyle House; Fair Housing Council v Kay Management

Established through testing and litigation that occupancy restrictions that discriminate against families with children violate the FHA.

Housing Discrimination: Hargraves v Capital Cities

Helped establish liability under FHA for predatory subprime loans targeting disadvantaged inner city communities.

Internet Discrimination: Lake v Kozmo.com

Brought first action against internet delivery service alleging redlining that excluded minority neighborhoods.

Retail Discrimination: Buchanan v Kay-Bee Toys

Performed testing and initiated litigation against retailer for restricting forms of payment in stores in predominantly minority neighborhoods.

Taxicab Discrimination: Mitchell v DCX, Inc.

Performed testing and initiated litigation alleging failure to provide dispatched cab service in predominantly minority neighborhoods.

Insurance Redlining: NFHA, et al v Travelers

Performed testing and served as plaintiff in several successful cases against insurance companies for discrimination against persons with disabilities (Wai v Allstate et al) and persons in minority neighborhoods.

University Housing Discrimination: ERC v University of Maryland

Performed testing and obtained court ruling that university had violated fair housing laws by allowing discriminatory advertising of off-campus housing.

Casos del ERC