Attorneys Matthew Lindberg and Melina McTigue Garland secured dismissal of a Complaint filed with the CHRO by a Housing Authority tenant, who claimed that the Housing Authority discriminated against her on the basis of mental disability.
The Complainant claimed that another tenant was stalking her. The police were called to the Housing Authority. The tenant’s claim with the CHRO was based in part on the narrative of the resulting police report, noting that the Housing Authority property manager was of the opinion that the tenant “likely has mental health issues that contributes to her thinking she is being stalked.” The property manager denied making any such statement to the police.
Following an investigation, which included an interview of the property manager, the CHRO found that the property manager did not make the statement. According to the Commission, an ordinary listener could not conclude that the housing manager’s statements to the police officer were discriminatory statements indicating a preference for non-disabled tenants. The Complaint was dismissed.