For more than 40 years, William and Margaret Galligan called their Miller Maple Townhome in Ann Arbor home. When Mr. Galligan, 83, was diagnosed with terminal cancer and dementia, his daughter, Krista Lichterman, requested a month-to-month lease on his behalf so he could remain in hospice care at home. The property manager denied the request, even after receiving a letter from Mr. Galligan’s doctor warning that a move could endanger his life.
Desperate, Krista turned to the Fair Housing Center for help. FHC staff contacted the property’s management company and formally requested a reasonable accommodation, explaining that under fair housing law, landlords must adjust their rules to meet the needs of tenants with disabilities unless doing so is unreasonable.
When the company refused to cooperate, the FHC connected the Galligans with a cooperating attorney who filed suit in Washtenaw County Circuit Court in August 2025. The action prevented an eviction, and the family was permitted to remain in their home on a month-to-month lease.
The Galligans’ case ensured that Mr. Galligan could spend his final days in peace, surrounded by family and the home he loved.