$100,000 Fair Housing Settlement With Homeowners Association In Case Alleging Failure To Accommodate Disabled War Veteran

Attorney Jeffrey Taren has obtained a $100,000 settlement from a Homeowners Association that refused to timely accommodate a disabled veteran in his attempt to purchase a home.   The accommodation being sought was simply a waiver of a truck weight limit to allow the client to park his disability-plated vehicle that transported his support dog and his mobility devices.  The family alleged that the failure to approve the request for an accommodation caused them to forfeit their contract to purchase a newly constructed, handicap-accessible home.  As part of the settlement, the Homeowners Association agreed to adopt a new policy requiring it to promptly consider requests for accommodation and also to undergo training regarding its obligations under the Fair Housing Act and the Washington Law Against Discrimination.  The home buyers were referred to MacDonald Hoague & Bayless by the Fair Housing Center of Washington located in Tacoma.