Case: Thomas and Fair Housing Center of the Greater Palm Beaches, Inc., vs. High Point of Delray, Section 1
05-81040-CIV, Judge Hurley, United States District Court Southern District of Florida
Sometime in July 2006, West Palm Beach Resident Elois Thomas was selling her marital home as her husband passed on, and was seeking to buy a condo in Delray Beach close to her family to live out her retirement days. Mrs. Thomas signed a real estate contract to buy a condo unit in High Point of Delray, Section One for $127,000 cash. Mrs. Thomas submitted her residency application to the Condo Association and awaited her interview. However, the President of the Association, Charles Jordan, rejected her application and returned it to the seller’s realtor stating “she’s black, and blacks are not accepted here” and that he would “stall the application process so that she would be discouraged enough to move on.”The seller’s realtor reported Mr. Jordan and the Association to the Fair Housing Center of the Greater Palm Beaches, who in turn, brought a lawsuit for racial discrimination under the Federal Fair Housing Act of 1968. On the eve of trial, the Association agreed to a settlement of $150,000. Since the time of the discrimination, Mrs. Thomas was able to secure another condo unit in Section Six, High Point of Delray, free of discrimination.
Sometime in July 2006, West Palm Beach Resident Elois Thomas was selling her marital home as her husband passed on, and was seeking to buy a condo in Delray Beach close to her family to live out her retirement days. Mrs. Thomas signed a real estate contract to buy a condo unit in High Point of Delray, Section One for $127,000 cash. Mrs. Thomas submitted her residency application to the Condo Association and awaited her interview. However, the President of the Association, Charles Jordan, rejected her application and returned it to the seller’s realtor stating “she’s black, and blacks are not accepted here” and that he would “stall the application process so that she would be discouraged enough to move on.”The seller’s realtor reported Mr. Jordan and the Association to the Fair Housing Center of the Greater Palm Beaches, who in turn, brought a lawsuit for racial discrimination under the Federal Fair Housing Act of 1968. On the eve of trial, the Association agreed to a settlement of $150,000. Since the time of the discrimination, Mrs. Thomas was able to secure another condo unit in Section Six, High Point of Delray, free of discrimination.
