FHA Defense
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Emotional Support Dogs again?
The March 25, 2026 decision from the Connecticut Supreme Court in Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities v Mansions takes a small but significant step toward limiting misuse of the Fair Housing Act as a way to avoid pet deposits or “no pets” rules. For full disclosure purposes, I represented the winning landlord throughout… Continue reading
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What the ADA and FHA are all about.
On December 5 (2025) I argued a fair housing case before the Connecticut Supreme Court. The details are important, but not for this blog. I say that because during the argument it occurred to me that it is easy, while cataloging and describing all the trees in the forest to forget that it is a… Continue reading
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FHA tester standing – the beginning of the beginning of the end?
Even after the Supreme Court’s decision in Transunion¹ and the Fifth Circuit’s decision in Laufer v Mann Hospitality,² challenging the standing of a Fair Housing Act tester in Texas has been a hit or miss proposition depending very much on which District Judge decided the case. It has been quite possible to file almost identical motions to… Continue reading
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HUD was wrong about pet deposits – it’s as simple as that.
I’ve written quite a few times in the last decade about the absurdity of HUD’s position that landlords cannot charge a fee or deposit for an assistance or emotional support animal.¹ HUD’s position has never made sense because asking for the waiver of a fee or deposit is just another kind of accommodation claim that… Continue reading
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AI and ADA compliance for websites – what does “equality” mean for accessibility?
Artificial Intelligence, or at least talk about AI, has become inescapable. Like “gluten free” it has been become a marketing tool that doesn’t mean anything. Gluten free toilet paper? – I’m sure somebody is selling it. AI powered paper clips? If not today then certainly tomorrow. Nonetheless, AI is real in the sense that computers… Continue reading