Bloomfield Hills Interests Named in Discrimination Suit

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The Justice Department is suing the Bloomfield Hills owners and the rental agent for three Michigan apartment complexes for discriminating against families with children.

A lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan alleges that the owners of the three complexes — Parkside East Apartments in East Lansing, Holt Manor Apartments in Holt and Kelly Manor Apartments in Owosso — refused to lease to families with children.

Sudi Hopper, of Bloomfield Hills, is the rental agent for the properties. The Bloomfield Hills-based corporate entities that own the complexes are Parkside East Inc., Holt Manor Inc., and Kelly Manor Inc.

The allegations are based on evidence collected by the Fair Housing Center of Southeastern Michigan, based in Ypsilanti, which had testers posing as prospective residents contact the defendants’ offices and speak with Hopper about renting a one-bedroom apartment, the Justice Department said in a statement.

Hopper did not allow single parent households with a minor child to live in a one-bedroom apartment, but did allow households with two adults to rent such an apartment.

“Although housing discrimination against families with children has been illegal under the Fair Housing Act for more than 25 years, too many families still face such discrimination when they look for housing,” Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Vanita Gupta, head of the Civil Rights Division, said in the statement

“The Justice Department will continue its vigorous enforcement of fair housing laws that protect the rights of these families,” Gupta said.

U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade of the Eastern District of Michigan said the Fair Housing Act gives parents the right to decide what type of apartment is appropriate for their families.

“It is unlawful for landlords to substitute their judgment for that of a parent, and to turn people away from a one-bedroom apartment simply because they have a child,” McQuade said. “We hope that this complaint sends a message to landlords and renters that we are prepared to defend the rights of all families to fair treatment in housing.”

The lawsuit seeks a court order prohibiting future discrimination by the defendants, monetary damages for those harmed by the defendant’s actions and a civil penalty.