Fair Housing Act | The Michigan Community Association Law Blog

Category Archives: Fair Housing Act

HB 4910: Michigan seeks to criminalize fake emotional support animal requests

Posted on September 6, 2019 by Kevin Hirzel

On September 3, 2019, Representative Matt Hill introduced House Bill 4910, which would create the “Misrepresentation of Emotional Support Animals Act” and criminalize a fake request for an emotional support animal. Requests for emotional support animals continue to rapidly increase under the Federal Fair Housing Act and the Michigan Persons with Disabilities Civil Rights Act, MCL 37.1101 et seq. According to a

HB 4676: New procedures for removing discriminatory provisions from covenants and master deeds

Posted on July 27, 2019 by Kevin Hirzel

On May 24, 2019, Rep. Sarah Anthony introduced HB 4676 in order to make it easier for Michigan condominium associations and homeowners associations to remove discriminatory provisions from a covenant, declaration or master deed. 42 U.S.C. § 3604 of the Federal Fair Housing Act makes it unlawful to: (c) To make, print, or publish, or cause to be made, printed,

Michigan Court rules that Homeowners Association did not violate Fair Housing Act in refusing fence for emotional support and service dogs

Posted on June 12, 2019 by Kevin Hirzel

In Fox Bay Civic Assn, Inc v Creswell, unpublished opinion of the Court of Appeals, issued May 30, 2019 (Docket No. 343384), the Michigan Court of Appeals held that a homeowners association could enforce its deed restrictions banning fences and that a disabled owner could not erect a fence in order to keep her emotional support and service dogs in

HOA violates the Fair Housing Act by denying a service animal in the clubhouse

Posted on April 4, 2019 by Kevin Hirzel

In Sanzaro v Ardiente Homeowners Association, et. al., Docket No. 2:11-CV0-1143-RFB-CWH, 2019 WL 1049380 (D Nev, March 5, 2019), a federal court imposed a judgment of $350,000 in compensatory damages, $285,000 in punitive damages and awarded the plaintiffs attorney’s fees and costs against their homeowners association. Based upon the facts of the case, the court determined that the homeowners association

Avoiding Religious Discrimination Claims in Condominiums and HOA’s

Posted on March 5, 2019 by Kevin Hirzel

Overview of Religious Discrimination under the Fair Housing Act The Federal Fair Housing Act (“FHA”), 42 U.S.C. §3601, et. seq. prohibits a condominium association or homeowners’ association from discriminating against a potential purchaser or an owner based upon religious beliefs. 42 U.S.C. §3604 provides in pertinent part: As made applicable by section 3603 of this title and except as exempted

#communityassociationstoo: Community Associations’ Liability for Sexual Harassment Under HUD’s Hostile Environment Rules

Posted on January 16, 2019 by Kayleigh Long

In the summer of 2013, Kayla West began looking for a house to rent in Georgia. She came across a rental home owned by DJ Mortgage, LLC, and contacted Gene Andrews, DJ Mortgage, LLC’s property and leasing manager. Ms. West entered into a lease agreement for the rental property, and between August 2013 and October 2013, Ms. West alleged that

Hirzel Law, PLC featured in Michigan Lawyers Weekly

Posted on June 18, 2018 by Kevin Hirzel

The Michigan Lawyer’s Weekly published an article on the formation of Hirzel Law, PLC by Kevin Hirzel, Matt Heron, Joe Wloszek, John Calvin, Brandan Hallaq and William Kolobaric. Kevin Hirzel, the managing member of Hirzel Law, PLC, discussed the depth of experience of the attorneys at Hirzel Law, PLC in condominium and homeowners association law. Specifically, Hirzel stated that “[w]e

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