ROBIN L. ROSENBERG, District Judge.
This is an action for discrimination on the basis of familial status in the rental of housing in violation of the federal Fair Housing Act, 42 U.S.C. § 3601 et seq., and the Florida Fair Housing Act, Fla. Stat. § 760.20 et seq. Plaintiffs include the Fair Housing Center of the Greater Palm Beaches, Inc. (the "Fair Housing Center") and a number of current and former residents of the Sonoma Bay and Marsh Harbour condominium developments, both of which are located in Riviera Beach, Florida. Following the dismissal of various parties named and claims asserted in this action, the remaining Defendants include: (1) Sonoma Bay Community Homeowners Association, Inc. ("Sonoma Bay HOA"), the entity responsible for the operation and management of the Sonoma Bay condominium development, including the creation and execution of the development's Rules and Regulations and the approval or denial of Rental Applications; (2) Jeanne Kulick, who served as president of the Sonoma Bay HOA from 2010 until the 2015 annual election, was elected vice president at the 2015 annual election, and has since returned to the position of president; (3) Emanuel Management Services, LLC, a property management company whose principal, Niambi Emanuel, served as the licensed community association manager ("LCAM") for the Sonoma Bay condominium development from July 2012 through March 2014; (4) Marsh Harbour Maintenance Association, Inc. d/b/a Marsh Harbour Master Association ("Marsh Harbour HOA"), the entity responsible for the operation and management of the Marsh Harbour condominium development, including the creation and execution of the development's Rules and Regulations and the approval or denial of Rental Applications; (5) Prestige Quality Management, LLC, the property management company currently responsible for the Marsh Harbour condominium development; (6) Kimberly Jackson, the owner of Prestige Quality Management, LLC, and the current LCAM for the Marsh Harbour condominium development; and (7) James Nyquist, the former LCAM for both the Sonoma Bay and Marsh Harbour condominium associations.
In their Second Amended Complaint, Plaintiffs allege violations of three provisions of the federal Fair Housing Act and three nearly identical provisions of the Florida Fair Housing Act.
Specifically, Plaintiffs allege that Defendants' policies and practices—including the use of Rental Applications that require prospective tenants to submit report cards for persons under the age of 18, and the enactment and enforcement of certain Rules and Regulations concerning the attire and behavior of persons under the age of 18—constitute discrimination against families with children in violation of these statutory provisions. See DE 93. In addition to monetary damages and other forms of relief, Plaintiffs request entry of a declaratory judgment finding that Defendants are in violation of the federal Fair Housing Act and the Florida Fair Housing Act; entry of an Order requiring each Defendant to take appropriate actions to ensure that the activities complained of are completely stopped immediately and not engaged in again by it or any of its agents; and entry of a permanent injunction directing Defendants and their directors, officers, agents, and employees to take all affirmative steps necessary to remedy the effects of the illegal, discriminatory conduct described in Plaintiffs' Second Amended Complaint, including but not limited to prominent notice to all tenants and homeowners correcting any and all related unlawful provisions in their leases and ownership documents, and to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
In their Motion for Summary Judgment, Defendants
(4) Plaintiffs' claims against Defendant James Nyquist in his capacity as LCAM for Sonoma Bay are time-barred. See DE 276.
Summary judgment is appropriate where "the movant shows that there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law." Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a). A dispute is genuine if "a reasonable trier of fact could return judgment for the non-moving party." Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Fla. v. United States, 516 F.3d 1235, 1243 (11th Cir. 2008). A fact is material if "it would affect the outcome of the suit under the governing law." Id.
In deciding a summary judgment motion, the Court views the facts in the light most favorable to the non-moving party and draws all reasonable inferences in that party's favor. See Davis v. Williams, 451 F.3d 759, 763 (11th Cir. 2006). The Court does not weigh conflicting evidence. See Skop v. City of Atlanta, 485 F.3d 1130, 1140 (11th Cir. 2007). Thus, upon discovering a genuine dispute of material fact, the Court must deny summary judgment. See id.
As an initial matter, the Court notes that the parties appear to have conflated the doctrines of standing and mootness in addressing the first three of Defendants' four arguments identified above. As the Supreme Court has acknowledged, such confusion is understandable in light of its "repeated statements that the doctrine of mootness can be described as `the doctrine of standing set in a time frame: The requisite personal interest that must exist at the commencement of the litigation (standing) must continue throughout its existence (mootness).'" Friends of the Earth, Inc. v. Laidlaw Envtl. Servs. (TOC), Inc., 528 U.S. 167, 189-90 (2000) (quoting Arizonans for Official English v. Arizona, 520 U.S. 43, 68 n.22 (1997)). Nevertheless, the Supreme Court has clarified "that the description of mootness as `standing set in a time frame' is not comprehensive." See id. at 190. While "[t]he Constitution's case-or-controversy limitation on federal judicial authority underpins both our standing and our mootness jurisprudence," the two inquiries differ in critical respects. Id. at 181 (internal citation omitted). While the Court may dispose of a claim for lack of standing where there has not yet been sufficient injury to justify adjudication, the doctrine of mootness applies where injuries once sufficient to confer standing have passed. See, e.g., 13 Charles Alan Wright & Arthur R. Miller, Federal Practice and Procedure § 3529 (3d ed. 1998). Accordingly, the Court distinguishes between issues of standing and mootness in the following analysis, despite the parties' failure to do so.
The following facts are undisputed: Beginning sometime in 2010 or later, Rental Applications for both the Sonoma Bay and Marsh Harbour condominium developments included a requirement that prospective tenants provide copies of report cards for persons under the age of 18 (the "Report Card Requirement"). See DE 276 ¶¶ 20, 22; id. at 61, 75. Beginning sometime in 2010 or later, the Rules and Regulations for both the Sonoma Bay and Marsh Harbour condominium developments required (1) that all residents wear proper attire when walking on the streets of the development, no boys should be shirtless, and girls must wear a cover up over a bathing suit when walking to the pool (the "Proper Attire Rule"), (2) that there would be no loitering—congregating on the streets of the development—at any time (the "Loitering Rule"), and (3) that persons under the age of 18 must be in their home or on their patio after sunset (the "Curfew Rule").
Defendants assert—and Plaintiffs do not dispute—that the Rental Applications and the Rules and Regulations for both the Sonoma Bay and Marsh Harbour condominium developments were revised prior to the commencement of the instant case
The parties disagree with respect to why these revisions were made immediately prior to and after the commencement of the instant case. Defendants assert that it was "not because of litigation, to deprive the Court of jurisdiction, or to avoid liability. Rather, the requirements and Rules and Regulations were changed based on the evolution and positive change in the community and to ensure conformity with federal and state law." Id. ¶ 32. Defendants cite the Affidavit of Jeanne Kulick, id. at 52-55, and the Affidavit of Kimberly Jackson, id. at 56-59, as support for this assertion. Plaintiffs, on the other hand, contend that Defendants "made changes to the Rules and Regulations in the anticipation of litigation, after [the Fair Housing Center] filed an administrative complaint against Sonoma Bay in 2013." See DE 308 at 2. Plaintiffs go on to state that the Fair Housing Center filed its administrative complaint against Sonoma Bay with the Palm Beach Office of Equal Opportunity on May 2, 2013, and formally withdrew the complaint on December 13, 2013, when Sonoma Bay failed to respond to conciliation efforts. See id. at 3. Plaintiffs have submitted copies of the complaint and withdrawal, in addition to a portion of the deposition testimony of Vince Larkin, as evidence. See DE 308-1; DE 308-4; DE 308-5.
The parties further disagree with respect to the effect of Defendants' revisions to the Rental Applications and Rules and Requirements. Defendants argue that, due to these revisions, Plaintiffs' claims for declaratory and injunctive relief were rendered moot
The effect of the revisions made by Defendants to the Rental Applications and the Rules and Regulations prior to the commencement of the instant case implicates the issue of Plaintiffs' standing, not mootness. See Friends of the Earth, 528 U.S. at 189-90.
Lujan v. Defenders of Wildlife, 504 U.S. 555, 560-61 (1992) (internal quotation marks and citations omitted). "[A] plaintiff must demonstrate standing separately for each form of relief sought." Friends of the Earth, 528 U.S. at 185 (citing Los Angeles v. Lyons, 461 U.S. 95, 109 (1983)).
"In order to demonstrate that a case or controversy exists to meet the Article III standing requirement when a plaintiff is seeking injunctive or declaratory relief, a plaintiff must allege facts from which it appears there is a substantial likelihood that he will suffer injury in the future." Malowney v. Fed. Collection Deposit Grp., 193 F.3d 1342, 1346 (11th Cir. 1999) (citing Lyons, 461 U.S. 95, 102 (1983)).
Id. at 1347 (quoting Emory v. Peeler, 756 F.2d 1547, 1551-52 (11th Cir. 1985)) (internal citations omitted). Similarly, "[b]ecause injunctions regulate future conduct, a party has standing to seek injunctive relief only if the party alleges . . . a real and immediate—as opposed to a merely conjectural or hypothetical—threat of future injury."
In response to a motion for summary judgment, a plaintiff cannot rest on mere allegations, but must set forth by affidavit or other evidence specific facts proving that he or she has standing. See RB Jai Alai, LLC v. Sec'y of Florida Dep't of Transp., No. 6:13-CV-1167-ORL-40, 2015 WL 4040607, at *4 (M.D. Fla. June 30, 2015) (quoting Lujan, 504 U.S. at 561).
While it is undisputed that—prior to the commencement of the instant case—Defendants revised certain aspects of the Rental Applications and the Rules and Regulations challenged by Plaintiffs, the Court concludes that Plaintiffs have nevertheless presented sufficient evidence of their standing to assert claims for declaratory and injunctive relief. Specifically, Plaintiffs have submitted copies of Rental Applications for both the Sonoma Bay and Marsh Harbour condominium developments that include the challenged Report Card Requirement despite the fact that these Rental Applications were completed and submitted by the prospective tenants after revisions thereto were made and after the instant case was commenced. See DE 308-6 at 2, 30, 42, 49, 74. Plaintiffs have also submitted copies of report cards provided by prospective tenants in connection with these Rental Applications. See, e.g., id. at 80-81, 101-08. Finally, Plaintiffs have submitted a copy of a violation notice from Defendant Kimberly Jackson to a resident of Marsh Harbour regarding "unsupervised children," suggesting that Defendants continued to enforce at least some of the challenged Rules and Regulations—in particular, Marsh Harbour's Loitering Rule—after the revisions thereto were made and after the instant case was commenced. See id. at 127-28. This evidence establishes a substantial likelihood that Plaintiffs continued to suffer the injuries alleged at the time the instant case was commenced and afterward. Summary judgment against Plaintiffs on the issue of standing to assert claims for declaratory and injunctive relief is therefore inappropriate.
The effect of the revisions made by Defendants to the Rental Applications and the Rules and Regulations after the commencement of the instant case implicates the issue of mootness, not Plaintiffs' standing. See Friends of the Earth, 528 U.S. at 189-90.
As a general rule, "[a] case is moot when it no longer presents a live controversy with respect to which the court can give meaningful relief. If events that occur subsequent to the filing of a lawsuit . . . deprive the court of the ability to give the plaintiff . . . meaningful relief, then the case is moot and must be dismissed." Sheely v. MRI Radiology Network, P.A., 505 F.3d 1173, 1183 (11th Cir. 2007) (quoting Troiano v. Supervisor of Elections in Palm Beach Cnty., Fla., 382 F.3d 1276, 1281-82 (11th Cir. 2004)). However, "[t]he doctrine of voluntary cessation provides an important exception to the general rule that a case is mooted by the end of the offending behavior." Id. (quoting Troiano, 382 F.3d at 1282) (internal quotation marks omitted).
Friends of the Earth, 528 U.S. at 189 (internal quotation marks and citations omitted).
Sheely, 505 F.3d at 1184.
The application of these factors to the undisputed facts and evidence before the Court compels the conclusion that it is not "absolutely clear that the allegedly wrongful behavior could not reasonably be expected to recur," Friends of the Earth, 528 U.S. at 189. First, in light of the fact that the challenged Rental Applications and Rules and Regulations were enacted and enforced by Defendants over a period of several years, the Court concludes that the challenged conduct was a continuing and deliberate practice. This weighs in favor of finding a reasonable expectation of recurrence. See Sheely, 505 F.3d at 1184-85 (citing United States v. W. T. Grant Co., 345 U.S. 629, 632 n.5 (1953)). Second, the timing of the majority of the revisions to the Rental Applications and the Rules and Regulations—during the few months between the Fair Housing Center's withdrawal of its administrative complaint in December of 2013 and commencement of the instant case in May of 2014—suggests that Defendants' cessation of the offending conduct may not have been motivated by a genuine change of heart, but instead timed to anticipate suit. Again, this weighs in favor of finding a reasonable expectation of recurrence. Id. at 1186 (citing Steel Co. v. Citizens for a Better Env't, 523 U.S. 83, 109 (1998)). Finally, Defendants have not explicitly acknowledged liability; Defendants state only that the revisions were made "based on the evolution and positive change in the community and to ensure conformity with federal and state law." See DE 276 ¶ 32; id. at 52-59. Once again, this "failure to acknowledge wrongdoing suggests that cessation is motivated merely by a desire to avoid liability, and furthermore ensures that a live dispute between the parties remains." See Sheely, 505 F.3d at 1187 (citing W. T. Grant, 345 U.S. at 632). Accordingly, Plaintiffs' claims for declaratory and injunctive relief are not moot.
It is undisputed that Plaintiffs Leann Carr and her grandson N.N. no longer reside in Sonoma Bay, and that both left Sonoma Bay after the commencement of the instant case. See DE 276 ¶ 33; DE 308 at 2; 308-3. However, the parties have presented conflicting evidence concerning the reasons why these Plaintiffs left Sonoma Bay. Defendants cite Leann Carr's deposition testimony, in which she states that she left Sonoma Bay because she was living alone in a three-bedroom apartment, and Sonoma Bay did not have any smaller apartments available. See DE 276 at 49-50; DE 317 at 21. Plaintiffs point to the sworn Declaration of Leann Carr, in which she states that she and her grandson left Sonoma Bay due to the "anti-child policies and rules" to which they were subjected while residing there. See DE 308-3.
Similarly, it is undisputed that Plaintiffs Golda Muselaire and her children I.M., A.M., and Z.M. no longer reside in Marsh Harbour, and that they left Marsh Harbour after the commencement of the instant case. See DE 276 ¶ 33; DE 308-10. However, the parties have presented conflicting evidence concerning the reasons why these Plaintiffs left Marsh Harbour. Defendants cite I.M.'s deposition testimony, in which he stated that he and his family left Marsh Harbour due to an increase in the amount of their rent. See DE 317 at 26. Plaintiffs point to the sworn Declaration of Golda Muselaire, in which she states that she and her family left Marsh Harbour due to the "anti-child policies and rules" to which they were subjected while residing there. See DE 308-10.
Finally, it is undisputed that Plaintiff Ta'Jenae Williams no longer resides in Marsh Harbour, and that she left Marsh Harbour after the commencement of the instant case. See DE 276 ¶ 33; DE 308 at 8. However, the parties have presented no evidence concerning the reasons why this Plaintiff left Marsh Harbour. Defendants argue only that, "[u]pon information and belief, after she turned 18 years old, started attending college, and met her boyfriend, she moved in with him." See DE 317 at 7. Plaintiffs make only a broad, unsupported statement that Ta'Jenae Williams, along with the other Plaintiffs who left Sonoma Bay and Marsh Harbour, "moved out of their respective communities as a result of Defendants' FHA violations." See DE 308 at 8.
As a general rule, a plaintiff's claims for declaratory and prospective injunctive relief under the Fair Housing Act are rendered moot when that plaintiff moves out of the allegedly discriminatory housing community. See, e.g., Harris v. Itzhaki, 183 F.3d 1043, 1050 (9th Cir. 1999). Plaintiffs argue, however, that they may proceed under the "futile gesture" exception. Specifically, Plaintiffs assert that they are members of a group protected by the Fair Housing Act, that they left the Sonoma Bay and Marsh Harbour condominium developments as a result of Defendants' discrimination against them, and that they would return to Sonoma Bay and Marsh Harbour if Defendants were enjoined from committing further discriminatory acts and if those responsible for creating, enforcing, and promulgating the discriminatory provisions are no longer in office with the homeowners associations. See DE 308 at 8-9 (citing Pinchback v. Armistead Homes Corp., 689 F.Supp. 541 (D. Md. 1988); Darby v. Ridge, 806 F.Supp. 170, 174 (E.D. Mich. 1992)).
While application of the futile gesture exception in the context of fair housing claims is not unprecedented,
Pinchback, 907 F.2d at 1452 (quoting Int'l Bhd. of Teamsters v. United States, 431 U.S. 324, 365 (1977)) (internal citation omitted). Whatever Plaintiffs' reasons for leaving Sonoma Bay and Marsh Harbour, there is no evidence that attempting to renew their leases would have been a futile gesture. Accordingly, Plaintiffs Leann Carr; N.N., by and through his mother, Heather Abrams; Golda Muselaire; I.M., A.M., and Z.M., by and through their parent, Golda Muselaire; and Ta'Jenae Williams's claims for declaratory and injunctive relief were rendered moot at the time their leases with the Sonoma Bay and Marsh Harbour communities expired.
It is undisputed that James Nyquist, who was at one time the LCAM for both the Sonoma Bay and Marsh Harbour condominium developments, resigned from both positions prior to the commencement of the instant case. See DE 276 ¶ 26. Defendants argue that Plaintiffs therefore lack standing to seek declaratory and injunctive relief against him. Plaintiffs have failed to respond to this argument and have submitted no evidence to support a finding that Plaintiffs in fact do have such standing. In the absence of any evidence of a substantial likelihood that Plaintiffs continued to suffer injury at the hands of James Nyquist at the time the instant case was commenced or afterward, the Court concludes that Plaintiffs lack standing to seek declaratory and injunctive relief against him. See Malowney, 193 F.3d at 1346 (citing Lyons, 461 U.S. at 102); RB Jai Alai, 2015 WL 4040607, at *4 (quoting Lujan, 504 U.S. at 561).
The federal Fair Housing Act provides that "[a]n aggrieved person may commence a civil action . . . not later than 2 years after the occurrence or the termination of an alleged discriminatory housing practice . . . to obtain appropriate relief with respect to such discriminatory housing practice. . . ." 42 U.S.C. § 3613(a)(1)(A). "The computation of such 2-year period shall not include any time during which an administrative proceeding . . . was pending with respect to a complaint or charge . . . based upon such discriminatory housing practice." 42 U.S.C. § 3613(a)(1)(B). Likewise, under Florida's Fair Housing Act, "[a] civil action shall be commenced no later than 2 years after an alleged discriminatory housing practice has occurred." Fla. Stat. § 760.35(1).
Defendants argue that Plaintiffs' claims against Defendant James Nyquist in his capacity as the licensed community association manager ("LCAM") for Sonoma Bay are time-barred. See DE 276 at 12-13. Specifically, Defendants argue that "[t]he alleged discrimination committed by Mr. Nyquist ended when he resigned as the LCAM for Sonoma Bay in July of 2012," more than two years prior to the date on which Plaintiffs joined James Nyquist as a Defendant in this case.
Plaintiffs also state that James Nyquist continued to contribute to the enforcement of the discriminatory rules and policies by staying in touch with and advising other Defendants. See DE 308 at 10 n.2. For example, Plaintiffs point to the deposition of Defendant Marsh Harbour's 30(b)(6) deponent, Patricia Makarowa, who testified that she had spoken to Mr. Nyquist the day prior to her deposition. DE 308-11, Deposition of Patricia Makarowa at 42. This portion of the deposition testimony provides no evidence that Ms. Makarowa gave any testimony to that effect.
It is therefore undisputed that James Nyquist left his position as LCAM for Sonoma Bay more than two years prior to the date on which Plaintiffs joined him as a Defendant in this case. Accordingly, Plaintiffs' claims against James Nyquist are time-barred. See 42 U.S.C. § 3613(a)(1)(A); Fla. Stat. § 760.35(1).
Accordingly, it is