Housing and Civil Enforcement Cases
United States v. Dawn Properties, Inc. (S.D. Miss.)
On December 2, 2016, the court entered a final consent order in United States v. Dawn Properties, Inc. (S.D. Miss.) resolving the United States’ claims against the Mississippi-based developers Ike W. Thrash, Dawn Properties, Inc., Southern Cross Construction Company, Inc. and other affiliated companies. The complaint, which was filed on May 23, 2014 and amended on June 23, 2016, alleged the defendants violated the Fair Housing Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act by building apartment complexes that were inaccessible to persons with disabilities. As part of the settlement, the defendants agreed to make substantial retrofits to remove accessibility barriers at the six complexes, which have nearly 500 covered units. The consent order also requires the defendants to pay $250,000 to 25 identified aggrieved persons, pay $100,000 in civil penalties, and undergo training. On December 18, 2014, November 3, 2015, September 2, 2016, and November 30, 2016, the court entered consent orders with Rule 19 Defendants 14510 Lemoyne Boulevard, LLC, Summer Miss, LLC, Belmont RS Apartments, LLC and Lexington Mill Mississippi Owner, LLC. The pattern or practice case was referred by the Department of Housing and Urban Development.