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Know Your Rights: Other Helpful Housing Discrimination Decisions

Below you will find useful opinions from courts around the country and the New York Attorney General recognizing that housing discrimination against victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking can constitute sex discrimination. Find a complete list of employment and housing discrimination litigation in the EHRSA court cases section.

Bouley v. Young-Sabourin, 394 F. Supp. 675 (D. Vt. 2005) (pdf)

Order denying defendant's motion for summary judgment and finding domestic violence victim stated prima facie claim of sex discrimination under federal Fair Housing Act for unlawful termination of lease based on being a victim of domestic violence.

Winsor v. Regency Property Mgm't, No. 94CV2349 (Wis. Cir. Ct. Oct. 2, 1995) (pdf)

Holding that Wisconsin Fair Housing Law, modeled after federal Fair Housing Act, prohibits housing discrimination against domestic violence victims.

O'Neil v. Karahlais, 13 M.D.L.R. 2004 (Mass. Comm'n Against Discrimination Oct. 21, 1991) (pdf)

Holding that Massachusetts fair housing law, modeled after federal Fair Housing Act, prohibits housing discrimination against domestic violence victims.

Formal Op. No. 8F-F15, 1985 Op. Atty. Gen. N.Y. 45 (Nov. 22, 1985)

Attorney general's opinion that sex discrimination provisions of New York State Human Rights Law prohibit denial of rentals to persons based on their status as domestic violence victims

Cox v. Related Companies, No. 11026/86 (N.Y. Sup. Ct. Monroe Cty Dec. 1, 1986) (pdf)