Case Summary: United States v. Tel-Clinton Trailer Courts, Inc. (E.D. Mich.)

On July 5, 2011, the United States filed acomplaintandconsent decreeinUnited States v. Tel-Clinton Trailer Courts, Inc.(E.D. Mich.). The Fair Housing Act complaint alleges that Tel-Clinton Trailer Courts Inc. – the owner and operator of Shamrock Village Mobile Home Park in Monroe, Michigan – engaged in a pattern or practice of discrimination on the basis of familial status by maintaining policies that prevented families with more than one child from residing there. The lawsuit also named as defendants Eugene J. Ponzio, the president of Tel-Clinton, and Mildred E. Wampler, the resident manager at Shamrock Village. Under the consent decree the defendants will pay $27,500 in damages and civil penalties, including a fund for individuals who suffered damages as a result of the defendants' conduct. The defendants will also develop and maintain non-discrimination policies at Shamrock Village and provide fair housing training to their employees. This case was based on testing conducted by the Fair Housing Council of Washtenaw County. The court entered the consent decree on July 13, 2011.