Summary
concluding that summary judgment was not warranted on plaintiff's retaliation claim under 42 U.S.C. § 3617 predicated on defendant's initiation of eviction proceedings against her
Summary of this case from Byrd v. Grove St. Mgmt. Corp.Opinion
NO. 06-CV-3373 (RER).
June 26, 2007.
Lynn Armentrout, Lynn Armentrout, Esq., New York, NY, for Plaintiffs.
Jeffrey M. Steinitz, Rappaport Hertz Cherson Rosenthal, Forest Hills, NY, for Defendants.
OPINION AND ORDER
Plaintiffs Jordan and David Wentworth brought this action against their landlord Eileen Hedson and her husband William under the Fair Housing Act of 1968, 42 U.S.C. §§ 3604(c) and 3617, the Civil Rights Act of 1866, 42 U.S.C. § 1982, and the New York Executive Law § 296. Plaintiffs claim that defendants unlawfully interfered with their housing rights by harassing them, disturbing the quiet enjoyment of their apartment, and instituting eviction proceedings against them because they associated with people of African American or African Caribbean descent. Defendants have moved for summary judgment pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 56, arguing that they did not harass or discriminate against plaintiffs, and that their actions were taken because plaintiffs violated the terms of their lease by operating a voice studio out of their apartment. For the reasons set forth below, defendants' motion for summary judgment is denied.
The parties have consented to have me preside over this case for all purposes pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(c)(1).
FACTS
The parties have not submitted statements of undisputed material facts pursuant to Local Civil Rule 56.1. Nevertheless, the following undisputed (and disputed) facts can be gleaned from the parties' respective declarations.
Jordan Wentworth alleges that she informed the Hedsons when the first lease was signed that she "would be singing in the apartment on a daily basis and giving voice lessons in the apartment on a regular basis." J. Wentworth Aff. ¶ 5 (emphasis added). Mrs. Wentworth claims that from the time she and her husband moved in, she "gave voice lessons [in the apartment] on a regular basis . . ." Id. ¶ 6. Without specifically denying these claims, Eileen Hedson alleges that she "remember[s] early on in their tenancy being so surprised at how many friends [the Wentworths] had made in such a short time; there were always people coming to the apartment." E. Hedson Aff. ¶ 7. Mrs. Hedson claims that she "had no idea that many of these people were Jordan's students and that she was running a full-blown studio out of" the apartment. Id.
The Wentworths allege that the trouble between the parties began in earnest in January 2006, when Mrs. Wentworth began giving voice lessons to three black students. J. Wentworth Aff. ¶ 17. Mrs. Wentworth claims that on February 22, 2006, Mr. Hedson left a voice mail message for her "in a hostile and aggressive tone, stating that if [she] did not stop having visitors over we would be asked to move." Id. ¶ 18. According to Mrs. Wentworth, Mr. Wentworth returned the call on February 24, 2006, and Mr. Hedson "yelled in return that we were having too many visitors, were breaking the lease, and would be evicted." Id. ¶ 19. Mrs. Wentworth also claims that Mr. Hedson "yelled" that if they did not stop having "these people" over he would put them "out on the street." Id. The Wentworths claim that immediately after the February 24, 2006, telephone conversation their intercom system "mysteriously stopped working." Id. ¶ 20. The Hedsons deny that they had anything to do with the malfunctioning intercom.
Mrs. Wentworth also refers to two earlier incidents in 2003 when the Hedsons exhibited animosity toward her. According to Mrs. Wentworth, "sometime in 2003" Mr. Hedson told her not to let delivery people into the house because they were "immigrant trash." J. Wentworth Aff. ¶ 8. Mrs. Wentworth says this exchange occurred not long after she had given a voice lesson to an East Indian student. It is not clear from her declaration whether the student is black, or whether the Hedsons saw the student come into the house. Mrs. Wentworth also describes a telephone call she received from Mrs. Hedson in 2003 shortly after she taught "some lessons" to a Nigerian student, and one of her younger students, who is presumably white, was brought to the house by an African American man. Id. ¶ 9. According to Mrs. Wentworth, Mrs. Hedson called "to say something about the people coming over to the apartment. This was the first comment ever, and had occurred after the first time people of African descent had visited [the Wentworths] at the apartment." Id.
Mrs. Wentworth alleges that on February 25, 2006, Mr. Hedson shouted at one of her Asian American students and refused to let him enter the building for his voice lesson. J. Wentworth Aff. ¶ 21. Conversely, on March 1, 2006, Mrs. Wentworth states that she taught lessons in the apartment to four students, all of whom are white, and none were either verbally harassed or prevented from entering the building by Mr. Hedson. Id. ¶ 22.
On March 2, 2006, Mrs. Wentworth claims that Mr. Hedson confronted one of her black students as she was waiting in her car for Mrs. Wentworth to come down and let her in the building. Id. ¶ 23. When she arrived downstairs, Mrs. Wentworth heard Mr. Hedson shout, among other things, "you ain't letting up with those clients of yours. You're gonna get thrown out on the street." Id. According to Mrs. Wentworth, the trouble resumed a few days later, when on March 29, 2006, Mr. Hedson stopped one of her "dark skinned" students and her father at the door and told them they could be arrested for taking voice lessons in the apartment. Id. ¶ 24.
On March 31, 2006, Mrs. Wentworth accidentally locked herself out of the house. According to her, the Hedsons refused to let her in, and "yelled at [her] and mocked [her] over the intercom, then stood at their front window laughing at [her] as [she] was locked out and in distress." Id. ¶ 25. Mrs. Wentworth claims two of her students witnessed this. Id. The Hedsons deny this ever happened. Id.
Mrs. Wentworth claims that in April 2006, as she passed by a local pizza parlor, Mr. Hedson came out and followed her home "at a close distance without speaking." Id. ¶ 26. Mrs. Wentworth alleges that as she sped up, so did Mr. Hedson. Once she entered the house, Mrs. Wentworth heard "loud banging on the wall, from inside the Hedsons' apartment [and] as [she] rushed up the stairs, Mr. Hedson came in and slammed the front door shut." Id. Mrs. Wenthworth felt intimidated and frightened by Mr. Hedsons' behavior. Id. Not unpredictably, the Hedsons deny this ever happened.
Mrs. Hedson alleges that the trouble between the parties began in December 2003, when another tenant in the building, Elissa Maloney ("Maloney"), had a heart attack and became homebound for an extended period of time. E. Hedson Aff. ¶ 8. According to Mrs. Hedson, Maloney complained that the noise coming from the Wentworth's apartment had become "unbearable." Id. Mrs. Hedson alleges that she relayed Maloney's complaints to Mrs. Wentworth, and asked her if she was running a voice studio out of the apartment. Id. ¶ 11. According to Mrs. Hedson, Mrs. Wentworth said "that she had lost her studio in Manhattan and was looking for another one, and that in a week or two the whole thing would be over." Id. ¶ 12. Mrs. Wentworth denies that this conversation ever took place. J. Wentworth Aff. ¶ 13.
Mrs. Hedson alleges that Maloney had complained "once or twice before", but that she asked Maloney to "let it go, so [she] never bothered to say anything to [the Wentworths] about those complaints." E. Hedson Aff. ¶ 9.
Mrs. Hedson alleges that in "December of 2005 or January of 2006 things really began to deteriorate between the parties." E. Hedson Aff. ¶ 14. By that time, Maloney "was again home sick for an extended period and began complaining to [the Hedsons] about the constant noise and traffic coming in and out of the apartment." Id. Maloney claimed that "it sounded as if they were right in her living room, and that she could hear the `la-la-la-la-la-la' for several hours a day, every single day." Id. ¶ 15. Upon hearing of Maloney's renewed complaints, Mrs. Hedson, who claims to be disabled and cannot climb stairs, "decided [she] would at least go out into the hallway to see if [she] could hear the singing, and [she] could." Id. ¶ 16. Mrs. Hedson also claims that around this same time she would see "people" loitering in front of the building "all day long and that [it] would make [her] dog bark like crazy." Id. ¶ 17. The alleged loitering made Mrs. Hedson feel unsafe. Id.
Without relaying Maloney's or her complaints to the Wentworths, in January 2006 Mrs. Hedson started to keep a log of the number and frequency of students coming to the Wentworth's apartment for voice lessons. Id. ¶ 18. Through March of that year, Mrs. Hedson claimed that on average 50 to 60 students came to the apartment for lessons each month. Id. According to the log, however, the average number of students per month was 42, or just over ten per week. Id., Exh. 5. At some point after Mrs. Hedson began keeping the log, Mr. Hedson left a message for for Mrs. Wentworth "about the noise and traffic and asked her to please stop running her singing studio out of the apartment or else" they may be asked to move out. Id. ¶ 19. After Mr. Hedson left this message, the Hedsons allege that David Wentworth telephoned and "yelled" at Mr. Hedson "about threatening [Mrs. Wentworth] and saying that if they could not run their studio out of the apartment that he would stop paying rent." Id. ¶ 20.
Mrs. Wentworth claims that she never gave more than fifteen lessons per week during the entire period she and her husband rented the apartment. J. Wentworth Aff. ¶ 7.
By March 1, 2006, things had deteriorated to the point where the Hedsons felt it necessary to commence an eviction proceeding against the Wentworths. E. Hedson Aff. ¶¶ 22-23; J. Wentworth Aff. ¶ 27. The Hedsons argue that the eviction proceeding was commenced because: (1) Jordan Wentworth refused to stop using the apartment to teach voice lessons; (2) the Wentworths had performed alterations to the apartment without the Hedsons' consent; and (3) the Wentworths were storing personal items in a common hallway. E. Hedson Aff. ¶ 22, Exhs. 6 7; J. Wentworth Aff. ¶ 27. The Wentworths argue that the Hedsons' reasons for commencing the eviction proceeding were a pretext, and that the proceeding was motivated solely, or at lease in substantial part, by discrimination. J. Wentworth Aff. ¶¶ 27-30. During the pendency of the eviction proceedings, the Wentworths claim their names were removed from the intercom nameplate on the front of the building, and a new mailbox was installed to which only the Hedsons had access. J. Wentworth Aff. ¶¶ 31, 34. The eviction proceeding continued in housing court until July 2006, when the Wentworths brought this action by way of an order to show cause seeking, inter alia, an order preliminary enjoining the eviction proceeding.
The Hedsons claim that shortly before the eviction proceeding was commenced, the Wentworths began carrying around a video camera and making rude comments to them, "hoping to get a response from [the Hedsons] on tape." E. Hedson Aff. ¶ 24.
On July 20, 2007, the preliminary injunction was resolved on consent on the record. The parties subsequently filed a stipulation that was "so ordered" by the Court.
DISCUSSION
I. Applicable Legal Standards
A. Summary JudgmentA motion for summary judgment will be granted where there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and it is clear that the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. FED. R. CIV. P. 56(c); Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322 (1986). The burden is on the moving party to demonstrate the absence of a genuine issue of material fact. Am. Int'l Group, Inc. v. London Am. Int'l Corp., 664 F.2d 348, 351 (2d Cir. 1981). In addition, the court must resolve all ambiguities and draw all reasonable inferences in favor of the opposing party. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 255 (1986). If, however, the opposing party fails to make a showing of an essential element of its case for which it bears the burden of proof, summary judgment will be granted. Celotex, 477 U.S. at 323; Smith v. Half Hollow Hill Cent. Sch. Dist., 349 F. Supp. 2d 521, 524 (E.D.N.Y. 2004).
To overcome a motion for summary judgment, the opposing party must show that there is a genuine issue of material fact that is in dispute. A fact is "material" if it "might affect the outcome of the suit under the governing law." Anderson, 477 U.S. at 248. A fact issue is "genuine" if "the evidence is such that a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the nonmoving party." Id. If the opposing party does not set forth specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial, summary judgment is appropriate. FED. R. CIV. P. 56(c).
B. Fair Housing Act
Fair Housing Act claims are evaluated under the McDonnell Douglas burden-shifting framework. See Robinson v. 12 Lofts Realty, Inc., 610 F.2d 1032, 1038 (2d Cir. 1979). Accordingly, once a plaintiff has established a prima facie case of discrimination, the burden shifts to the defendant to articulate a legitimate, nondiscriminatory rationale for the challenged action. See McDonnell Douglas Corp. v. Green, 411 U.S. 792, 802-03 (1973). If the defendant articulates a nondiscriminatory reason for the challenged action, the burden shifts back to the plaintiff to demonstrate that discrimination was the real reason for the defendant's action. See Schnabel v. Abramson, 232 F.3d 83, 87 (2d Cir. 2000). A plaintiff can do this by showing "that the legitimate reasons offered by the defendant were not its true reasons, but were a pretext for discrimination." Texas Dept. of Cmty. Affairs v. Burdine, 450 U.S. 248, 253 (1981). The ultimate burden of persuading the trier of fact that the defendant intentionally discriminated against the plaintiff remains at all times with the plaintiff. Schnabel, 232 F.3d at 90. Summary judgment is appropriate if no reasonable jury could find that the defendant's actions were motivated by discrimination. E.g., Mitchell v. Shane, 350 F.3d 39, 47 (2d Cir. 2003).
Section 3604(c) of the Fair Housing Act prohibits making, printing or publishing "any notice, statement, or advertisement, with respect to the sale or rental of a dwelling that indicates any preference, limitation, or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin, or an intention to make any such preference, limitation, or discrimination." 42 U.S.C. § 3604(c). The governing regulations interpret this provision to cover "all written or oral notices or statements by a person engaged in the sale or rental of a dwelling." 24 C.F.R. § 100.75 (empahsis added); see also Soules v. HUD, 967 F.2d 817, 824 (2d Cir. 1992) ("Openly discriminatory oral statements merit . . . straightforward treatment.") (emphasis added). Thus, to establish a prima facie claim under section 3604(c), plaintiffs must prove that: (1) defendants made a statement; (2) the statement was made with respect to the rental of a dwelling; and (3) the statement indicated a preference, limitation, or discrimination on the basis of race. See 42 U.S.C. § 3604(c).
Section 3617 of the FHA makes it unlawful to "coerce, intimidate, threaten, or interfere with any person in the exercise or enjoyment of, or on account of his having exercised or enjoyed, or on account of his having aided or encouraged any other person in the exercise or enjoyment of, any right granted or protected by [inter alia] . . . Section 3604." 42 U.S.C. § 3617. The implementing regulations interpret section 3617 to cover "[t]hreatening, intimidating or interfering with persons in their enjoyment of a dwelling because of the race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin of such persons, or of visitors or associates of such persons." 24 C.F.R. § 100.400(c)(2) (emphasis added). To establish an FHA claim under § 3617 in the context of this case, plaintiffs must demonstrate (1) that they aided or encouraged members of a protected class in the exercise or enjoyment of their FHA rights, and (2) that as a result of their actions, they suffered coercion, intimidation, threats, interference or retaliation. See, e.g., Berlickij v. Town of Castleton, 248 F. Supp. 2d 335, 346 (D. Vt. 2003).
II. Defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment Is Denied
A. Defendants Failed to Comply with The Local Rules
Rule 83 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure authorizes a District Court to adopt local rules of practice. Pursuant to this authority, the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York have adopted Local Rule 56.1, which establishes requirements for the submission of and opposition to motions for summary judgment under Fed.R.Civ.P. 56. Local Civil Rule 56.1 provides in pertinent part:
(a) Upon any motion for summary judgment pursuant to Rule 56 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, there shall be annexed to the notice of motion a separate, short and concise statement, in numbered paragraphs, of the material facts as to which the moving party contends there is no genuine issue to be tried. Failure to submit such a statement may constitute grounds for denial of the motion.
(emphasis added).
In this case defendants failed to file (and presumably serve) a statement pursuant to Local Rule 56.1. On that basis alone, the Court would be justified in denying the motion. E.g., Searight v. Doherty Enters., Inc., No. 02 Civ. 0604, 2005 WL 2413590, at *1 (E.D.N.Y. Sept. 29, 2005) (denying summary judgment motion for failure to comply with Local Rule 56.1); Stone v. 866 3rd Next Generation Hotel, L.L.C., No. 00 Civ. 9005, 2002 WL 482558, at *1 n. 2 (S.D.N.Y. Mar. 29, 2002) (same); see also Holtz v. Rockefeller Co., Inc., 258 F.2d 62, 73 (2d Cir. 2001) ("A district court has broad discretion to determine whether to overlook a party's failure to comply with local rules."). However, as set forth below, there exist material issues of fact which preclude summary judgment. Accordingly, the motion is denied on the merits.
B. Defendants Are Not Entitled to Summary Judgment
1. Plaintiffs' Claim Under 42 U.S.C. § 3604(c)
Before addressing the Hedsons' principal arguments, I will address two threshold arguments that they make in passing. Apparently relying on the standard applicable to a claim under 42 U.S.C. § 3604(a), defendants argue that plaintiffs' section 3604(c) claim cannot stand because: (1) as whites, plaintiffs are not members of a protected class; and (2) they were not denied the opportunity to rent an apartment from defendants. Memorandum of Law in Support of Defendants' Motion Seeking an Order Granting Summary Judgment Dismissing The Complaint ("Defs' Br.") at 12. These arguments are misplaced for two reasons.
Relying on Passanante v. RY Mgmt Co., Inc., No. 99 Civ. 9760 (DLC), 2001 WL 123858 (S.D.N.Y. Feb. 13, 2001), defendants argue that to "prove a violation of the Fair Housing Act" plaintiffs must show that: (1) they belong to a protected class; (2) they sought and were qualified to rent the apartment; (3) they were denied the opportunity to rent the apartment; and (4) the apartment remained available. Defs' Br. at 12. Passanante involved, inter alia, a claim under 42 U.S.C. § 3604(a). 2001 WL 123858, at *4. This case does not involve a violation of section 3604(a), from which defendants are statutorily exempted. Passanante, and the standard enunciated therein, are thus inapplicable here.
First, a plaintiff need not be a member of a protected class in order to bring suit under this section of the Fair Housing Act. It has long been held that whites have standing to sue under section 3604(c) for discriminatory statements made against non-whites. See Trafficante v. Metropolitan Life Ins. Co., 409 U.S. 205, 208-12 (1972) (because Congress intended to define standing under the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as broadly as possible under Article III, the Fair Housing Act confers standing on white resident of housing unit who had been injured by racial discrimination against blacks in the management of the facilities); United States v. Gilman, 341 F. Supp. 891, 896-97 (S.D.N.Y. 1972) (landlord's statement to white tenant that she should send her friends over to see vacant apartment but to "make sure her friends are whites" held to violate 42 U.S.C. § 3604(c)); see also Stewart v. Furton, 774 F.2d 706, 708-10 (6th Cir. 1985) (lessor's statement to prospective white tenant that black tenants were not allowed in trailer park because white tenants would move out was held to violate 42 U.S.C. § 3604(c)); United States v. L H Land Corp., 407 F. Supp. 576, 578-80 (S.D. Fla. 1976) (statements to white tenants that no blacks lived in development and were not allowed there even as guests was held to violate 42 U.S.C. § 3604(c)); cf. Woods-Drake v. Lundy, 667 F.2d 1198, 1200-01 (5th Cir. 1982) ("It is well established that whites have a cause of action under [the civil rights laws] when discriminatory actions are taken against them because of their association with blacks."). Thus, the fact that plaintiffs are white is not a bar to their claims under section 3604(c).
Second, section 3604(c)'s protections are not limited to housing transactions or to prospective tenants. In United States v. Space Hunters, Inc., the Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit made clear that nothing in section 3604(c)'s language limits the statute's reach to statements that directly affect a housing transaction. 429 F.3d 416, 424 (2d Cir. 2005); see also Housing Rights Center v. Donald Sterling Corp., 274 F. Supp. 2d 1129, 1142 (C.D. Cal. 2003) ("Certainly a discriminatory statement . . . violates § 3604(c), even if not made at the moment of first sale or rental."). In Space Hunters, the Second Circuit rejected as too narrow "the district court's view that section 804(c)'s purpose is to `prevent expressions that result in the denial of housing.'" 429 F.3d at 424. In fact, the Second Circuit has permitted plaintiffs to recover for discriminatory advertising even when the plaintiffs were not in the market for housing. See Ragin v. Harry Macklowe Real Estate Co., 6 F.3d 898, 903-04 (2d Cir. 1993). Thus, even though the Wentworths were not denied the right to rent the apartment from the Hedsons, they are still able to make out a prima facie case under section 3604(c).
Defendants' principal arguments for summary judgment on plaintiffs' section 3604(c) claim are: (1) that plaintiffs have failed to produce a single instance of defendants publicizing an intent to discriminate, Defs' Br. at 13-15; and (2) defendants had a legitimate, nondiscriminatory reason for their actions — "safety and quiet," id. at 15. These arguments are discussed in turn.
a. Prima Facie Case
Defendants argue that because there is no proof that they (1) ever used racial slurs with respect to the Wentworth's minority students or (2) "harassed" the Wentworth's nonstudent visitors, the Wentworths have failed to establish a prima facie claim under section 3604(c). Defs' Br. at 13-15. Put differently, defendants argue that because it is alleged that they made only "vague remarks" aimed exclusively at Mrs. Wentworth's students, there is no proof of intentional discrimination. This argument is misplaced for two reasons.
As plaintiffs correctly argue, "[t]hat statements are not facially discriminatory does not mean that they do not indicate an impermissible preference in the context in which they were made." Soules, 967 F.2d at 825 (emphasis added). In other words, racial slurs are not necessary to establish a violation of section 3640(c). In cases involving "vague remarks," context and timing are everything. Here, while the Wentworths admit that the Hedsons did not use any racial slurs, they allege that the harassing and discriminatory comments occurred almost exclusively when black students would visit. Plaintiffs' Memorandum of Law in Opposition to the Motion for Summary Judgment ("Pls' Br.") at 8-9. Of course, the Hedsons are entitled to dispute the facts asserted by the Wentworths; but they cannot obtain summary judgment simply by doing so.
See also J. Wentworth Aff. ¶ 10 ("This was the first comment ever, and had occurred after the first time people of African descent had visited me at the apartment."), ¶ 17 ("I had three new voice students who are black, coming to the apartment for lessons. This was when everything changed."), ¶ 22 ("On March 1, 2006, I had four students over for lessons, all of whom were white, and none of whom were stopped by Mr. Hedson.").
In addition, the fact that the Hedsons may not have harassed the Wentworth's nonstudent visitors is immaterial. See Defs' Br. at 13, 15 ("neither plaintiff could identify an alleged incident of harassment towards a non-student visitor to the premises."). What the Hedsons ignore is that the Wentworths claim that they did not have any minority nonstudent visitors. Affidavit in Opposition, David Wentworth ("D. Wentworth Aff.") ¶ 13 ("The problem with this argument is that I do not believe that we had any minority friends over to the apartment."). Nothing in the Hedsons' or Ms. Maloney's deposition transcripts refutes that claim. Therefore, even if the Hedsons did not harass the Wentworths' nonstudent visitors, that would not undercut a finding (or at least an inference) that the Hedsons discriminated against the Wentworths because they entertained minority students in their apartment.
Throughout this opinion I use the different forms of the word "harass" not to indicate nondiscriminatory conduct, but merely to refer to the conduct allegedly attributable to the Hedsons. Of course, harassment can, and often does, constitute discrimination. Whether it does so in this case will be an issue of fact for a jury to decide. Accordingly, I reject the Hedsons' argument that because the Wentworths used the different forms of the word harass more often than discrimination to describe the Hedsons' conduct, that somehow undercuts the Wentworths' claim that the Hedsons discriminated against them. Defs' Br. at 15-16.
See also Deposition of Elissa Lee Maloney, at 15:
Equally meritless is the Hedsons' argument, tacitly made, that they were equal opportunity harassers. Memorandum of Law in Reply to Plaintiff's Opposition of Defendants' Motion Seeking an Order Granting Summary Judgment Dismissing The Complaint ("Defs' Reply") at 9 ("It also appears from plaintiffs' own testimony that the defendants did not `discriminate' against minority students, but rather `harassed' all students that came to the apartment." (emphasis added)). There is a genuine dispute of fact on this issue. See J. Wentworth Aff. ¶ 22 ("On March 1, 2006, I had four students over for lessons, all of whom were white, and none of whom were stopped by Mr. Hedson."). Moreover, what matters is whether the harassment that is visited upon members of different races or genders is truly equal in terms of, inter alia, prevalence, severity and impact. See, e.g., Brown v. Henderson, 257 F.3d 246, 254-55 (2d Cir. 2001) (discussing "equal opportunity harasser" defense in context of gender-based claim under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-1 et seq.); see also Kampmier v. Emeritus Corp., 472 F.3d 930, 940 (7th Cir. 2007); Steiner v. Showboat Operating Co., 25 F.3d 1459, 1463-64 (9th Cir. 1994). Those issues, at least here, cannot be resolved on summary judgment.
The one instance where Mr. Hedson harassed one of Mrs. Wentworth's white students does not warrant summary judgment. Defs' Br. at 15. From all the evidence a jury may reasonably conclude either that this harassment occurred after the parties' relationship had deteriorated such that Mr. Hedson was "raging" against all of the Wentworths' visitors, or that one instance of harassment against a white student does not mean that the Hedsons were not discriminating against the Wentworths' minority students.
In any event, after reviewing all of the affidavits, deposition transcripts and exhibits, and resolving all ambiguities and drawing all reasonable inferences in the Wentworths' favor as I must, I find that the Wentworths have sustained their burden of establishing a prima facie case under 42 U.S.C. § 3604(c). This is a classic case of "he said, she said." The Wentworths claim that the Hedsons directed virtually all of their harassment toward the Wentworths' minority students. The Hedsons dispute the claim. The parties respective factual positions are supported by their affidavits and deposition testimony. There are no smoking guns in the documents or obvious admissions in the deposition testimony or affidavits. While the evidence the Wentworths have put forth may be circumstantial, the issue simply cannot be decided on summary judgment as there exist genuine issues of material fact in dispute. Reasonable minds could differ on whether the Hedsons' statements would lead an ordinary listener to believe that the Hedsons' actions were motivated by discrimination.
Because the Wentworths have established a prima facie case of discrimination, the burden now shifts to the Hedsons to assert a legitimate, nondiscriminatory reason for their actions. Mitchell, 350 F.3d at 47.
b. Proffered Nondiscriminatory Reasons And Pretext
Defendants have proffered a purportedly legitimate, nondiscriminatory reason for their actions — the Wentworths breached the provisions of their lease and ran a vocal studio out of the apartment. Defs' Br. at 15. Of course, the defendants' burden in this regard is one of production, and not proof. E.g., Texas Dept. of Cmty. Affairs, 450 U.S. at 257 ("the employer need only produce admissible evidence which would allow the trier of fact rationally to conclude that the employ decision had not been motivated by discriminatory animus."); Dister v. Continental Group, Inc., 859 F.2d 1108, 1114 (2d Cir. 1988) (defendant "is required to articulate — but not prove — a legitimate, nondiscriminatory reason"). While the Wentworths challenge the sufficiency of the Hedsons' factual assertions, suffice it to say that the Hedsons have satisfied their minimal burden of proffering a nondiscriminatory reason for their actions. See Reeves v. Sanderson Plumbing Prods., Inc., 530 U.S. 133, 143, 120 S.Ct. 2097, 147 L.Ed.2 105 (2000) ("[The burden of providing a legitimate, nondiscriminatory reason] is one of production, not persuasion; it can involve no credibility assessment.") (quoting St. Mary's Honor Ctr. v. Hicks, 509 U.S. 502, 509, 113 S.Ct. 2742, 125 L.Ed.2d 407 (1993))).
Although the Hedsons have proffered a nondiscriminatory reason for their actions, a jury could reasonably conclude that the proffered reason is pretextual and that discrimination is the real reason. Pointing to the timing and context of the conduct at issue, plaintiffs argue that the issue must be decided by a jury:
Defendants' statements must, then, be analyzed in the context of the Complaint's essential allegations that Jordan Wentworth taught voice lessons in the apartment for years and received no complaints from the defendants or Elissa Maloney, their neighbor, until some of her students started showing up black. This essential fact both provides context for the interpretation of facially nondiscriminatory statements, and constitutes evidence from which a jury could find an intent to discriminate.
Pls' Br. at 6; see also id. at 9 ("Defendants' argument ignores the Complaint's fundamental allegation that nobody complained about Jordan's giving voice lessons in the apartment until she enrolled several new students who were black."). While the issue of pretext cannot be resolved on summary judgment based on the allegations in the complaint, I agree that plaintiffs have come forth with sufficient evidence of pretext to survive summary judgment.
It is undisputed that virtually all of the parties' negative interactions occurred contemporaneously with or immediately after a black student's voice lesson. Timing alone may be sufficient to establish pretext. O'Neal v. State University of New York, No. 01 Civ. 7802 (DGT), 2006 WL 3246935, at *15 (E.D.N.Y. Nov. 8, 2006) (citing Quinn v. Green Tree Credit Corp., 159 F.3d 759, 770 (2d Cir. 1998)). Here, however, plaintiffs have more than mere timing upon which to rely. Reasonable inferences which could be drawn from the content and context of the Hedsons' statements, the fact that the Hedsons permitted the Wentworths to operate a voice studio out of the apartment for years without ever harassing any of Mrs. Wentworth's white students or asking the Wentworths to leave, plus the fact that the Hedsons harassed only one of the Wentworths' white students after the relationship had soured beyond repair, could lead a reasonable jury to conclude that the proffered reasons for the Hedsons' actions were pretextual, and that the real reason was unlawful discrimination. See, e.g., Schnabel v. Abramson, 232 F.3d 83, 89 (2d Cir. 2000) ("the trier of fact can reasonably infer from the falsity of the explanation that the employer is dissembling to cover up a discriminatory purpose"); Bouley v. Young-Sabourin, 394 F. Supp. 2d 675, 678 (D. Vt. 2005) (timing of eviction and statements in eviction letter could lead reasonable jury to conclude lease violation was pretext and unlawful discrimination was real reason for discrimination).
Accordingly, plaintiffs' claim under section 3604(c) survives summary judgment.
2. Plaintiffs' Claim Under 42 U.S.C. § 3617
Summary judgment cannot be granted on plaintiffs' claim under section 3617 for the same reasons, and an extended discussion is unnecessary. While defendants argue strenuously that the plaintiffs' version of events is false, and that their version of events is true, they ignore the fact that the parties' respective positions are supported by deposition testimony and affidavits; thus, there are genuine issues of material fact in dispute. As plaintiffs note, "[i]t is abundantly clear that this case involves two diametrically opposed versions of what happened, a dispute that can only be resolved at trial." Pls' Br. at 13. Ultimately, it is for a jury to decide given all the facts, assessing the parties' credibility, and drawing all reasonable inferences where appropriate, whether there is sufficient proof of discrimination, a legitimate, nondiscriminatory reason for the Hedsons' actions, and/or pretext.
CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, defendants' motion for summary judgment is denied. As discovery is completed, the parties are directed to file a joint pretrial order, proposed voir dire and requests to charge, and any motions in limine or pretrial memoranda no later than August 17, 2007. The trial in this case will commence on September 17, 2007 at 9:30 a.m. Q: So when you say, "I've seen people of various races and cultures visiting Jordan's apartment," who did you think they were? A: Clients. Q: What kind of clients? A: Vocal lesson clients.The one instance where Mr. Hedson harassed one of Mrs. Wentworth's white students does not warrant summary judgment. Defs' Br. at 15. From all the evidence a jury may reasonably conclude either that this harassment occurred after the parties' relationship had deteriorated such that Mr. Hedson was "raging" against all of the Wentworths' visitors, or that one instance of harassment against a white student does not mean that the Hedsons were not discriminating against the Wentworths' minority students.