Commonwealth v. Orian

19 Mass. L. Rptr. 377
CourtMassachusetts Superior Court
DecidedMay 24, 2005
DocketNo. MICV200500194E
StatusPublished

This text of 19 Mass. L. Rptr. 377 (Commonwealth v. Orian) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Massachusetts Superior Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Commonwealth v. Orian, 19 Mass. L. Rptr. 377 (Mass. Ct. App. 2005).

Opinion

Brassard, Raymond J., J.

Plaintiff Commonwealth of Massachusetts, through its Attorney General, brought a housing discrimination action against defendant Shimon Orian for refusing to rent to disabled persons. The matter is now before this Court on the defendant’s Motion to Dismiss. On May 10, 2005, a hearing was held on the motion. For the reasons stated below, the defendant’s Motion to Dismiss is DENIED.

BACKGROUND

Delta Projects, Inc. is a non-profit entity that sets up residences for persons with disabilities. Shimon Orian owned and listed for rent a single-family house, located at 86 Oldham Road, in Newton. In November of 2003, Delta Projects attempted to rent the property from Orian.

On March 24, 2004, Delta Projects filed a Housing Complaint against Orian at the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD). On the form, there are blank lines, in two separate sections, for the insertion of the specific subparagraphs of §4 of G.L.c. 15 IB alleged to be violated by the respondent (defendant Orian). In both spots, Delta Projects inserted “6, 7, 7A.” Citing “Handicap” as the believed basis of discrimination, Delta Projects’ MCAD Housing Complaint explicitly charged Orian with “unlawful housing discrimination in violation of Massachusetts General laws, Chapter 151B, Section 4, Paragraph^) 6, 7, 7A” (Exhibit A of the Commonwealth’s Opposition to Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss).

On or about December 6, 2004, the MCAD issued a Probable Cause Finding. On December 20, 2004, Orian elected to pursue a judicial determination in Superior Court.

On January 18, 2005, the MCAD issued a Supplemental Order of the Investigating Commissioner. In its entirety, the Order reads,

This matter comes before me on the Commonwealth’s Motion for Clarification of MCAD’s Order on Appeal. On December 6, 2004,1 issued an Order vacating the original Lack of Probable Cause finding in this matter and entering a finding of Probable Cause with respect to Complainant’s complaint. The Commonwealth now seeks clarification as to which sections of M.G.L.c. 15IB the Probable Cause finding applies. Complainant’s complaint alleged violation of M.G.L.c. 151B, §§4(6), 4(7), 4(7A) and 4(7B).1 The Order was intended to confirm that the Commission found Probable Cause with respect to Complainant’s claims under M.G.L.c. 151B, §§4(7) and 4(7B).

Delta Projects, Inc. v. Orion, No. 04-BPR-00759 (Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination January 2005).

On January 19, 2005, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, through its Attorney General, commenced a housing discrimination suit against Orian in Superior Court. The Complaint explicitly seeks “injunctive and monetary relief against Shimon Orian for unlawful housing discrimination in violation of M.G.L.c. 151, §§4(7), 4(7A), and 4(7B).” The Complaint alleges jurisdiction pursuant to G.L.c. 15 IB, §§5 and 9, and G.L.c. 214, §1 (General equity jurisdiction).

DISCUSSION

Defendant Orian has moved to dismiss Count I pursuant to Mass.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(6) (failure to state a claim). He has moved to dismiss Counts II and III pursuant to Rule 12(b)(1) (lack of subject matter jurisdiction).

I. Failure to State a Claim

Orian contends that Count I fails to state a claim on which relief can be granted.

Specifically, Orian contends that the Commonwealth has failed to make out a prima facie case of housing discrimination because “there is no allegation that the housing opportunity remained available after the applicant was allegedly rejected.” The Commonwealth contends that its allegations, that the house was available for rent at the time of Delta Projects’ inquiry and that Delta Projects’ application was thereafter rejected, are sufficient to show a prima facie case of housing discrimination.

Massachusetts courts review a 12(b)(6) Motion to Dismiss under the standard that “a complaint should not be dismissed for failure to state a claim unless it [378]*378appears beyond doubt that the plaintiff can prove no set of facts in support of the claim.” Fabiano v. Boston Redevelopment Auth., 49 Mass.App.Ct. 66, 70 (2000), quoting Brum v. Dartmouth, 44 Mass.App.Ct. 318,321 (1998), rev’d on other grounds, 428 Mass. 684 (1999), quoting Nader v. Citron, 372 Mass. 96, 98 (1977). “A complaint is sufficient against a motion to dismiss if it appears that the plaintiff maybe entitled to any form of relief, even though the particular relief he has demanded and the theory on which he seems to rely may not be appropriate.” Id. at 70-71, citing Brum, 44 Mass.App.Ct. at 321, quoting Nader, 372 Mass, at 104. “Therefore, all that a plaintiff need do to resist such a motion is present a complaint that does no more than sketch the bare silhouette of a cause of action.” Id. at 71, citing Brum 44 Mass.App.Ct. at 322, quoting Coolidge Bank & Trust Co. v. First Ipswich Co., 9 Mass.App.Ct. 369, 371 (1980).

As “the allegations of the complaint, as well as such inferences as may be drawn therefrom in the plaintiff s favor, are to be taken as true,” Nader v. Citron, 372 Mass. 96, 86 (1977), the Commonwealth has put forth allegations that “sketch the bare silhouette of a cause of action.” Fabiano, 49 Mass.App.Ct. at 71. The allegations of the Complaint suffice to support a claim of housing discrimination; particularly, as the matter was removed from the MCAD, at Orian’s election, after a finding of probable cause. Further, as Orian conceded at oral argument, the Commonwealth alleges that it will produce direct evidence of discrimination and, hence, is not required to plead a prima facie case. See Swierkiewicz v. Sorenma, N.A., 534 U.S. 506, 511-12 (2002) (“It thus seems incongruous to require a plaintiff, in order to survive a motion to dismiss, to plead more facts than he may ultimately need to prove to succeed on the merits if direct evidence of discrimination is discovered”). As such, the Commonwealth has stated a claim for which relief could be granted.

II. Lack of Subject Matter Jurisdiction

Orian contends that Counts II and III should be dismissed for lack of subject matter jurisdiction. Specifically, Count II should be dismissed because the MCAD did not find probable cause with respect to subparagraph 7A of G.L.c. 15 IB, §4. Count III should be dismissed because, although the MCAD did find probable cause with respect to subparagraph 7B, Delta Projects did not allege a violation of 7B on its MCAD Housing Complaint. The Commonwealth contends that it is not limited to claims stemming from MCAD probable cause determinations and that the facts stated by Delta Projects in its MCAD Housing Complaint alleged a violation of 7B.

“Proceeding in the Superior Court provides a complete remedy to any error that may have been made by the MCAD in failing to find probable cause.” Brienzo v. Massachusetts Comm’n Against Discrimination, 60 Mass.App.Ct. 917, 918 (2004). ‘There is no benefit to the plaintiff of a finding of probable cause at the MCAD except an ability to proceed before the MCAD,” id., or enabling the complainant or the respondent to make a judicial election to proceed in Superior Court. G.L.c. 15 IB, §5.

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Related

Swierkiewicz v. Sorema N. A.
534 U.S. 506 (Supreme Court, 2002)
Commonwealth v. Dowd
638 N.E.2d 923 (Massachusetts Appeals Court, 1994)
Coolidge Bank & Trust Co. v. First Ipswich Co.
401 N.E.2d 165 (Massachusetts Appeals Court, 1980)
Nader v. Citron
360 N.E.2d 870 (Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, 1977)
Brum v. Town of Dartmouth
428 Mass. 684 (Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, 1999)
Stonehill College v. Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination
808 N.E.2d 205 (Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, 2004)
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. v. Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination
808 N.E.2d 257 (Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, 2004)
Brum v. Town of Dartmouth
44 Mass. App. Ct. 318 (Massachusetts Appeals Court, 1998)
Fabiano v. Boston Redevelopment Authority
726 N.E.2d 428 (Massachusetts Appeals Court, 2000)
Brienzo v. Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination
805 N.E.2d 526 (Massachusetts Appeals Court, 2004)

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Bluebook (online)
19 Mass. L. Rptr. 377, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/commonwealth-v-orian-masssuperct-2005.