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Need help please...Housing discrimination lawsuit won..how much to ask for?

L

Lola

Rising Star
BGOL Investor
I travel back and forth several times a month to another state to see a loved one who is ill. I thought it would be a better idea to rent a place for the next year and not have to worry about hotels, etc.

I look into an apartment. I call this one place and tell the landlord what I want to do, and he asks, "how many in your family"? When I told him I had a few kids, he said, "I'm sorry..I don't want kids in my place.". He was very nice about it and I said okay and goodbye.

I started wondering could he do something like this. I called the Fair Housing office out of curiosity and they told me it was illegal for someone to discriminate on familial status.

Anyhow, they did an investigation and told me YES I had a claim. Well, I got a call the other day and now the landlord and his lawyer want to do mediation, so we can settle.

My question is this...what is a fair amount to ask for? I've searched online and can't find the answer. I don't have a lawyer, I was doing this on my own.

What do you think?

The rent for this place was going to be 920/month, including utilities.
 
you have actually lost nothing,so anything you get is a bonus,,i would shoot for the cost of a relocation,,travel furniture etc. say 10k
 
dbluesun said:
you have actually lost nothing,so anything you get is a bonus,,i would shoot for the cost of a relocation,,travel furniture etc. say 10k
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That's about what I was thinking, I was thinking about the cost of the annual lease, which would be 11 grand.

I just want to start at the highest possible. I was thinking 35 grand, but maybe that's TOO much. :lol:

I felt kind of guilty about this at first, but then I found out from my investigator that dude has SEVERAL high end properties and she told me he should have known better.
 
papi68 said:
Get an attorney...
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I really didn't want to pay an attorney a lot of money. I just needed some answers or advice and I can't find anything. I really don't want to end of giving a lot of the damn settlement to a lawyer.

I'm just wondering if 35,000 is too high.
 
$100...!

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You need a lawyer. They won't give you anything unless they absolutely have to. Trying to represent yourself in civil litigation is like trying to rob a store without a weapon. Shit just won't work.
 
so u one of them broke ass people who go around looking to sue people who didn't do shit to u?
 
Figure that you should go for whatever you think is fair plus lawyer fee's. I sued my association for 75K and after all the legal shit and specialists, I walked with over 45K which was more than enough to fix my damages.

I'd say you should walk with around a years rent. so between 7,500K and 12,000k is fair in my book.
 
dbluesun said:
you have actually lost nothing,so anything you get is a bonus,,i would shoot for the cost of a relocation,,travel furniture etc. say 10k
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I disagree. There is a Fed statute involved so there must be some statutory penalties already in place. A better source would be to look at case law and see what the average jury award is for that jurisdiction. Oh, but I forgot, she doesn't want to pay an attorney. Never mind. Carry on.
 
Flawless said:
so u one of them broke ass people who go around looking to sue people who didn't do shit to u?
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Nope. Not at all. That's why I'm desperate for advice. I have never in my life been in this situtation.

I actually called fair housing because I was wondering if someone could do that, based on familial status.

I was not going to proceed, but the fair housing investigators told me that he was in the wrong and if he could do this for familial status, he might discriminate on race, etc.
 
I wouldn't do anything, you can get blacklisted and word put out about you. Don't give these companies a reason to fuck with you, unless you don't care. There are plenty of landlords that will lease to you.

I went through the same thing regarding my lease, lawyer called settled, got fired shortly from my job (company had a contract with my employer) and ran out of town (unable to find work). Car keyed up and towed.

These are things you need to consider, something your lawyer won't discuss openly, they want to get paid.
 
followup said:
I think that's bullshit...but first of all, how many rooms in the place you wanted to rent?
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What do you think is bullshit?

It was a large Victorian home, I have one part and another renter (who he told me doesn't want kids running around next to him) rented the other part.

It's a nice place.

I did feel badly at first, I thought to myself "shouldn't someone have the right to not rent to someone with kids", but the investigator said that's a slippery slope, because what would stop them from discriminating for other reasons, etc.

It's all right..he's got crazy upscale properties, TONS that he rents for 900 and up a month. He'll be alright.
 
COINTELPRO said:
I wouldn't do anything, you can get blacklisted and word put out about you. Don't give these companies a reason to fuck with you, unless you don't care. There are plenty of landlords that will lease to you.

I went through the same thing regarding my lease, lawyer called settled, got fired shortly from my job (company had a contract with my employer) and ran out of town (unable to find work).

These are things you need to consider, something your lawyer won't discuss openly, they want to get paid.
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Why the hell would I be punished for HIM breaking fair housing laws? That doesn't make sense.

Besides, this isn't the state I reside in. I was going to rent the place there to visit an ill family member several times a month, every weekend.
 
LordSinister said:
Figure that you should go for whatever you think is fair plus lawyer fee's. I sued my association for 75K and after all the legal shit and specialists, I walked with over 45K which was more than enough to fix my damages.

I'd say you should walk with around a years rent. so between 7,500K and 12,000k is fair in my book.
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Why did you sue them?
 
Dude its a mediation, if they dont throw a number at you first, start at $35k and negotiate from there. Knowing the lowest you'll go is 11k, you should be good.
 
I can imagine how this negotiation will play out:

"So, how much do you want?"

"35k"

"No, we'll give you a thousand dollars"

"But I want, 35k! I'm not taking less!"

"Fine, we'll see you in court."

Plus, I find it interesting that this big-time developer has tons of upscale properties priced at $900 a month :hmm: and doesn't have a professional property management company interviewing potential tenants.

I'm just sayin.
 
Post the result Lola, I say start at 35k as well and then negotiate, more than likely they will counter with annual lease agreement plus like 1200-1500 hush money. What you got to lose lol, hey I see it like this, this is your chance at monopoly you lose you still the same person before the call, you win you still the same person before the call, plus not having to come out of your pocket for rent to visit the fam and mad money!!!!
 
Lola said:
What do you think is bullshit?

It was a large Victorian home, I have one part and another renter (who he told me doesn't want kids running around next to him) rented the other part.

It's a nice place.

I did feel badly at first, I thought to myself "shouldn't someone have the right to not rent to someone with kids", but the investigator said that's a slippery slope, because what would stop them from discriminating for other reasons, etc.

It's all right..he's got crazy upscale properties, TONS that he rents for 900 and up a month. He'll be alright.
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I figured as much. I knew it was not a private apartment or home based on what he said. I think it's bullshit that in a shared home one can not say they don't want kids there. Same with pets. Find some where else for you and your children to stay where it's private or the space is not shared with others. Don't be an asshole and try and come up.
 
followup said:
I figured as much. I knew it was not a private apartment or home based on what he said. I think it's bullshit that in a shared home one can not say they don't want kids there. Same with pets. Find some where else for you and your children to stay where it's private or the space is not shared with others. Don't be an asshole and try and come up.
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I don't think I'm being an asshole, I disagree with that.

I'm not trying to live someone full-time with my kids. I have a house in my home state with my husband, this was a place I was going to rent in another state and visit an ill family member every weekend.

If someone can say that, then they can say they don't want a black person living next to them, etc. Now you see why it's illegal on ALL accounts?
 
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hotnicklez said:
Post the result Lola, I say start at 35k as well and then negotiate, more than likely they will counter with annual lease agreement plus like 1200-1500 hush money. What you got to lose lol, hey I see it like this, this is your chance at monopoly you lose you still the same person before the call, you win you still the same person before the call, plus not having to come out of your pocket for rent to visit the fam and mad money!!!!
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That's how I see it. I'm not going to feel badly. Whitey been ripping us off for YEARS. Oh well.

As far as a lease agreement, I'm not trying to stay there! Forget that.
 
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Lola said:
If someone can say that, then they can say they don't want a black person living next to them, etc. Now you see why it's illegal on ALL accounts?
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apples & pigs. Children make noise, mess things up, etc. That's what they do. And yes, adults can do that too, but less likely. Someone's skin color does not make them a bad tenant and you probably would have gotten the place had you not mentioned that kids would be staying there. Funny how you're equating it to racial discrimination. Hope it does not backfire on you :dunno:
 
followup said:
apples & pigs. Children make noise, mess things up, etc. That's what they do. And yes, adults can do that too, but less likely. Someone's skin color does not make them a bad tenant and you probably would have gotten the place had you not mentioned that kids would be staying there. Funny how you're equating it to racial discrimination. Hope it does not backfire on you :dunno:
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He asked me my family situation, apparently you didn't read the initial post. I told him the truth that I had a few kids and that's when he said he did not want any kids there.

ALSO, I told him that I will only be there on weekends and he said the neighbor doesn't want to hear kids running around.

This sure is funny coming from you, a mother. You still don't get it--it's a slippery slope---no kids, then it can go to race, etc. I don't understand why you don't get that.

You can't cherry pick what is discrimination on one account (race) and not on other accounts (familial status). Fair housing laws don't work that way. :hmm:
 
HB in HD said:
Female posters don't have to donate to post on bgol.

The OP paid the ten bucks multiple times :lol:
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Huh?

How do you know what any BGOL member has donated. Negro please.

You are not making sense. I'm a female, I've been here for YEARS and futhermore, none of this is "Duck Tales" dude. I have better things to do with my time instead of making up stories. :hmm:
 
Lola said:
Huh?

How do you know what any BGOL member has donated. Negro please.

You are not making sense. I'm a female, I've been here for YEARS and futhermore, none of this is "Duck Tales" dude. I have better things to do with my time instead of making up stories. :hmm:
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Life is like a hurricane here in Duckburg
Race cars, lasers, aeroplanes - it's a duck blur
You might solve a mystery or rewrite history

Duck Tales, Oo-oo
Tales of derring-do, bad and good luck tales, oo-oo

D-d-d-danger, watch behind you - there's a stranger out to find you
What to do? Just grab onto some Duck Tales, oo-oo!
Not pony tails or cotton tails but Duck Tales, oo-oo!

When it seems they're headed for the final curtain
Bold deduction never fails, that's for certain
The worst of messes become successes!

Duck Tales, Oo-oo
Tales of derring-do, bad and good luck tales, oo-oo
Not pony tails or cotton tails but Duck Tales, oo-oo!​
 
Lola said:
That's about what I was thinking, I was thinking about the cost of the annual lease, which would be 11 grand.

I just want to start at the highest possible. I was thinking 35 grand, but maybe that's TOO much. :lol:

I felt kind of guilty about this at first, but then I found out from my investigator that dude has SEVERAL high end properties and she told me he should have known better.
Click to expand...

they won't give you what you ask for off the top. so if you say 35 grand then they settle for 15 you're still up 5 from the price you really want anyway. 35 sounds right as an opening negotiation point
 
Lola said:
He asked me my family situation, apparently you didn't read the initial post. I told him the truth that I had a few kids and that's when he said he did not want any kids there.

ALSO, I told him that I will only be there on weekends and he said the neighbor doesn't want to hear kids running around.
This sure is funny coming from you, a mother. You still don't get it--it's a slippery slope---no kids, then it can go to race, etc. I don't understand why you don't get that.

You can't cherry pick what is discrimination on one account (race) and not on other accounts (familial status). Fair housing laws don't work that way. :hmm:
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ummmm...you got me confused with some other woman. I do not have any children. And even if I have children, it does not mean that I will agree with your thoughts on parenting or any other matter.

Fair housing laws apply to private residences as far as I understand, but I may be wrong. If I am renting you a room in my home that I live in, I should have a right to have who I want in MY home.

I am still trying to wrap my head around this law because the only way it makes sense is that the person who rents out the property (but does not live there) can not say something like that, but if he lived there maybe he could. Like if I am renting out a room in my house, I should be able to say I do not want to rent to someone with a child. Because it is my place...and you are just being rented a temporary space in my place. I could see if this person was renting you a private place and said that, but under the circumstances you posted--I think the law is bullshit. Do you have a code or a link to a site that explains it in detail?
 
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