STATE OF FLORIDA COMMISSION ON HUMAN RELATIONS

EDWARD GIVENS, HUD Case No. 04-12-0994-8

Petitioner, FCHR Case No. 2013H0034

v. DOAH Case No. 12-3493

V. T. F. PROPERTIES, LLC, FCHR Order No. 13-031 Respondent.

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FINAL ORDER DISMISSING PETITION FOR RELIEF FROM A DISCRIMINATORY HOUSING PRACTICE

Preliminary Matters

Petitioner Edward Givens filed a housing discrimination complaint pursuant to the Fair Housing Act, Sections 760.20 - 760.37, Florida Statutes (2011), alleging that Respondent V. T. F. Properties, LLC, committed discriminatory housing practices on the bases of Petitioner’s race (identified in the Recommended Order as “African-American”) and disability with regard to Petitioner’s treatment in the leasing of a unit in a quadplex from Respondent.

The allegations set forth in the complaint were investigated, and, on October 11, 2012, the Executive Director issued a determination finding that there was no reasonable cause to believe that a discriminatory housing practice had occurred.

Petitioner filed a Petition for Relief from a Discriminatory Housing Practice and the case was transmitted to the Division of Administrative Hearings for the conduct of a formal proceeding.

An evidentiary hearing was held in Macclenny, Florida, on January 14, 2013, before Administrative Law Judge E. Gary Early.

Judge Early issued a Recommended Order of dismissal, dated February 7, 2013.

The Commission panel designated below considered the record of this matter and determined the action to be taken on the Recommended Order.

Findings of Fact

A transcript of the proceeding before the Administrative Law Judge was not filed with the Commission. In the absence of a transcript of the proceeding before the Administrative Law Judge, the Recommended Order is the only evidence for the Commission to consider. See National Industries, Inc. v. Commission on Human Relations, et al., 527 So. 2d 894, at 897, 898 (Fla. 5th DCA 1988). Accord, Mack v.

Filed May 1, 2013 11:14 AM Division of Administrative Hearings

Agency for Persons with Disabilities, FCHR Order No. 11-026 (March 17, 2011), Hall v. Villages of West Oaks HOA, FCHR Order No. 08-007 (January 14, 2008), Beach- Gutierrez v. Bay Medical Center, FCHR Order No. 05-011 (January 19, 2005), and

Waaser v. Streit’s Motorsports, FCHR Order No. 04-157 (November 30, 2004).

We adopt the Administrative Law Judge’s findings of fact.

Conclusions of Law

We find the Administrative Law Judge’s application of the law to the facts to result in a correct disposition of the matter.

We adopt the Administrative Law Judge’s conclusions of law.

Exceptions

Neither of the parties filed exceptions to the Administrative Law Judge’s Recommended Order.

Dismissal

The Petition for Relief and Housing Discrimination Complaint are DISMISSED with prejudice.

The parties have the right to seek judicial review of this Order. The Commission and the appropriate District Court of Appeal must receive notice of appeal within 30 days of the date this Order is filed with the Clerk of the Commission. Explanation of the right to appeal is found in Section 120.68, Florida Statutes, and in the Florida Rules of Appellate Procedure 9.110.

DONE AND ORDERED this 1st day of May , 2013. FOR THE FLORIDA COMMISSION ON HUMAN RELATIONS:

Commissioner Gilbert M. Singer, Panel Chairperson; Commissioner Onelia Fajardo-Garcia; and Commissioner James Johns

Filed this 1st day of May , 2013, in Tallahassee, Florida.

/s/ Violet Crawford, Clerk

Commission on Human Relations 2009 Apalachee Parkway, Suite 100

Tallahassee, FL 32301

(850) 488-7082

Copies furnished to:

Edward Givens 604 Joan Street

Macclenny, FL 32063

Edward Givens

606 Martin Luther King Drive Macclenny, FL 32063

V. T. F. Properties, LLC

c/o Frank E. Maloney, Jr., Esq. Frank E. Maloney, Jr., P.A.

445 East Macclenny Avenue Macclenny, FL 32063

E. Gary Early, Administrative Law Judge, DOAH James Mallue, Legal Advisor for Commission Panel

I HEREBY CERTIFY that a copy of the foregoing has been mailed to the above listed addressees this 1st day of May , 2013.

By: /s/ Clerk of the Commission

Florida Commission on Human Relations

Docket for Case No: 12-003493

Orders for Case No: 12-003493