Housing and Civil Enforcement Cases
United States v. Retsel Corporation (D. S.D.)
On November 29, 2023, the court entered a consent order in United States v. Retsel et. al., in the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota. The complaint, which was filed on October 19, 2022, alleged that that the Retsel Corporation and the owners, Connie Uhre and her son Nicholas Uhre, discriminated against Native American customers through policies and practices that denied Native Americans the full and equal enjoyment of access to the services, accommodations and privileges at the Grand Gateway Hotel and the Cheers Sports Lounge and Casino, in violation of Title II of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The Grand Gateway and Cheers Sports Lounge and Casino are in Rapid City, South Dakota. The consent order enjoins Connie Uhre from being a director or officer of the Retsel Corporation and from engaging in any of the hotel’s operations for four years. The consent order also enjoins Defendants from engaging in discrimination on the basis of race and requires that they issue an apology to be distributed to the tribal communities and posted on the company’s website. Defendants must also undergo training, develop an anti-discrimination policy, complaint procedure and marketing plan. Defendants must also hire a compliance officer to monitor Defendants’ compliance with the consent order. Except for the provisions regarding Connie Uhre, the terms of the Consent Order are in effect for three years from the date the court issued the order.
United States v. Concord Court at Creative Village Partners, LTD, et al. (M.D. Fla.)
On April 10, 2023, the court entered a consent order in United States v. Concord Court at Creative Village Partners, LTD, et al. (M.D. Fla.). On October 6, 2022, the United States filed the complaint and a proposed consent order. The complaint alleges that the defendants, Concord Court at Creative Village Partners LTD., Concord Management LTD., related entities and a property manager, discriminated against families with children in violation of the Fair Housing Act by refusing to issue building access devices to minor residents, prohibiting children from common areas and amenities unless supervised by adults, and misrepresenting the availability of units to families with children at an apartment complex in Orlando, Florida. The consent order requires the defendants to pay $260,000 to residents who were harmed by their practices and a civil penalty to the United States. The defendants will also implement nondiscrimination policies and provide fair housing training to employees with management or leasing responsibilities at all the residential rental properties they own or operate in Florida. The case was referred to the Division after the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) received several complaints, conducted an investigation, and issued multiple charges of discrimination.