Parties Reach Resolution in Lurie Terrace Litigation

ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN—Current and former tenants of Lurie Terrace and the volunteer Board of Directors that operate the building have reached a mutual resolution satisfactory to all parties in a fair housing dispute. In August 2018, Clark Cooper, Gartha Parrish and the Lurie Terrace Tenants’ Association (LTTA) filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, claiming violations of federal and state disability discrimination laws, and other claims against Lurie Terrace. Lurie Terrace is an apartment building that is operated by a volunteer Board of Directors for the benefit of providing residents age 62 and older an affordable, safe living community located near downtown Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Under the terms of the parties’ resolution, Lurie Terrace does not require tenants to be able to live independently and will not do so in the future. Lurie Terrace has adopted formal written policies and procedures that represent best practices for maintaining a non-discriminatory housing community and articulate that Lurie Terrace welcomes and guarantees reasonable accommodations for tenants with disabilities. 

“We are very pleased that Lurie Terrace has strong, effective protections for tenants with disabilities,” said Dara Smith, an AARP Foundation attorney who represented the Plaintiffs. “Lurie Terrace’s policies are now an exemplary model of best practices for apartment buildings and housing providers everywhere who have tenants aging in place.”

“Lurie Terrace is an Ann Arbor institution that has played a vital role in our community since 1964,” said Mary Jean Raab, President of the Board of Lurie Terrace. “We are proud to be a welcoming place for seniors.”

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Lurie Terrace is a Michigan non-profit corporation that is operated by a volunteer board of directors for the benefit of providing residents age 62 and older an affordable, safe living community located near downtown Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Lurie Terrace was represented by Dickinson Wright PLLC, a general practice business law firm with more than 475 attorneys among more than 40 practice areas. Headquartered in Detroit and founded in 1878, the firm has 19 offices across the United States and in Toronto, Canada. Dickinson Wright offers clients a distinctive combination of superb client service, exceptional quality, value for fees, industry expertise, and business acumen. For more information, visit www.dickinsonwright.com

The plaintiffs were represented by attorneys from AARP Foundation, Legal Services of South Central Michigan, and University of Michigan Law School’s Civil-Criminal Litigation Clinic.

AARP Foundation works to end senior poverty by helping vulnerable older adults build economic opportunity and social connectedness. As AARP’s charitable affiliate, we serve AARP members and nonmembers alike. Bolstered by vigorous legal advocacy, we spark bold, innovative solutions that foster resilience, strengthen communities and restore hope.

Legal Services of South Central Michigan (LSSCM) provides free civil legal assistance to low-income individuals and families with an emphasis on homelessness prevention, domestic violence prevention and assistance in accessing health care, food, and needs-based income programs. LSSCM has several locations across the state including Ypsilanti serving Washtenaw County. LSSCM is a division of the Michigan Advocacy Program. For more information visit www.lsscm.org and www.miadvocacy.org.

The University of Michigan Law School’s Civil-Criminal Litigation Clinic represents Michigan residents who cannot otherwise afford a lawyer in cases large and small. Upper-level law students staff the cases under faculty supervision, in the same way that medical students provide patient care as part of their medical education. Students learn the basics of practicing law while performing much-needed pro bono service in their local community.