January 1, 1997 | Categories: Litigation | Tags: disability, Ypsilanti Township
#W97-55
WACA/FHC v Oakridge
Ypsilanti Township
The Washtenaw Association for Community Advocacy (WACA) filed a disability discrimination lawsuit against Oakridge Apartments in Ypsilanti Township. The Fair Housing Center later joined the suit. The suit names developers Julie A. Fielek and Charles Chatfield, engineer John W. Adams, and architect Joseph E. Sojkowski and alleges violations of the Federal Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1989. WACA is a non-profit disability advocacy group.
An FHC investigation conducted while Oakridge was still under construction revealed that the Holmes Road complex had a two-inch threshold leading into ground floor apartments and the leasing office; insufficient space/design in the bathrooms and doorways; and had no designated handicapped parking spaces. According to the Fair Housing Act, all multi-family housing built for first occupancy after March 13, 1991, must adhere to seven design requirements regarding wheelchair accessibility for ground floor units and units on other floors reachable by elevator. The suit was filed after meetings with Oakridge failed to resolve the complaint. WACA and FHC are represented by Paul A. Callam and Stephen M. Dane of Cooper, Walinski & Cramer. The case was assigned to Judge Patrick J. Duggan.
Court: Federal
Settlement: $15,000