Friday, September 28, 2007

Fair Housing Act - attorney fees

Snyder v. Bazargani et al. - ED Pa. - September 25, 2007

http://www.paed.uscourts.gov/documents/opinions/07D1146P.pdf

Plaintiffs awarded attorney fees under the Fair Housing Act, 42 USC 3613(c)(2), against defendant-landlords who "inquired about plaintiffs' religious affiliation and thereafter....refused to rent plaintiffs the property." Given that plaintiffs prevailed at trial, the court had "very little discretion to deny an award of counsel fees." The court's discretion to deny fees is "tightly cabined."