Weatherford v. Nevada Rural Housing Authority

946 F. Supp. 2d 1101, 2013 WL 2179292, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 70568
CourtDistrict Court, D. Nevada
DecidedMay 17, 2013
DocketNo. 3:10-cv-729-RCJ-RAM
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 946 F. Supp. 2d 1101 (Weatherford v. Nevada Rural Housing Authority) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Nevada primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Weatherford v. Nevada Rural Housing Authority, 946 F. Supp. 2d 1101, 2013 WL 2179292, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 70568 (D. Nev. 2013).

Opinion

ORDER

ROBERT C. JONES, District Judge.

Currently before the Court is Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment (# 51). The Court heard oral argument on March 26, 2012.

The Clerk’s Office inadvertently closed this case on March 26, 2012, and did not enter this order as a result. The Clerk’s Office reopened this case on April 1, 2013, and now enters this order.

BACKGROUND

I. Complaint

On November 22, 2010,1 Plaintiff Charlotte Weatherford (“Weatherford”), pro se, filed a complaint on behalf of herself and her minor daughter, Ann Weatherford (“Ann”).2 (Compl. (#5) at 1). In the complaint, Weatherford sued the Nevada Rural Housing Authority (“NRHA”); Heidi Fettic, an NRHA rental assistance manager; Terry Smith, an NRHA rental assistance director; and Kimberle McKee3 , an NRHA case worker (collectively “Defendants”). (Id. at 1-2). Weatherford alleged the following in her complaint. (Id. at 3). In December 2008, she had “put in for a reasonable accommodation” which went unanswered. (Id.). She had asked for three informal hearings but all were denied. (Id.). There was mold in her house from November 2009 and on. (Id.). In March 2010, Weatherford’s voucher was taken away from her after she had refused to sign a paper giving up her rights to file an U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”) complaint. (Id.).

Weatherford alleged three causes of action in her complaint. (Id. at 4-6). In the first cause of action, Weatherford alleged that her civil rights had been violated pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 3604(f)(3)(B), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, 24 C.F.R. § 982.505(d), 24 C.F.R. § 8.11, 24 C.F.R. § 8.28(a)(5), and 24 C.F.R. § 8.33. (Id. at 4). Specifically, in December 2008, Weath[1104]*1104erford had put in a request for a reasonable accommodation to the NRHA. (Id.). Fettic did not give her the accommodation or a denial letter. (Id.). In January 2010, Weatherford put in for two other reasonable accommodations that Fettic later sent to Weatherford’s doctor. (Id.). The doctor misunderstood the accommodation for Ann, who had asthma. (Id.). The doctor found that Weatherford and Ann did not have a disability because they had allergies and asthma. (Id.).

In her second cause of action, Weather-ford alleged that her civil rights had been violated pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 3617. (Id. at 5). Specifically, in March 2010, Fettic asked Weatherford to sign an agreement whereby Weatherford would waive her right to file any additional grievances or complaints with HUD. (Id.). Smith had suspended Weatherford’s voucher when Smith discovered that Weatherford had filed a complaint with HUD. (Id.). In November, Weatherford had mailed a certified letter to NRHA about the mold but had received no response. (Id.). She had also emailed Fettic and McGee about the mold but no action was taken. (Id.).

In her third cause of action, Weather-ford alleged that her civil rights had been violated pursuant to 24 C.F.R. § 982.555(a)(l)(iv). (Id. at 6). Specifically, in September, October, and November 2009, Weatherford had put in a request for informal hearings. (Id.). Fettic had denied all of the hearings for a reasonable accommodation for a larger room size based on a disability. (Id.). Fettic did not issue a denial letter. (Id.).

II. Summary Judgment Facts

On December 1, 2008, Weatherford wrote a letter to the NRHA. (Defs’ Ex. 3 (# 51-1) at 45). The letter informed the NRHA that the house Weatherford was currently residing in on Marion Russell Drive was on the market to be sold. (Id.). The Marion Russell house was a three-bedroom house “under a reasonable accommodation.” (Id.). Weatherford sought a “reasonable accommodation based on [her] disabilities” and sought to keep the three-bed room house for her accommodation. (Id.). In 1993, Weather-ford had won a work-related court case due to an injury to her lower back. (Id.). She requested a three-bedroom house that gave her a “place and sense of relaxation where [she did] not have a feeling of confinement.” (Id.). She did not want a place with stairs because she did not want to re-injure herself. (Id.). She also wanted to be in a certain area because of past incidents involving her son and her “PTSD because of the abuse of her son and [herself] when they lived in a different area.” (Id.).

On December 9, 2008, Weatherford submitted a request for a reasonable accommodation. (Defs’ Ex. 5 (# 51-1) at 79). Weatherford stated that she had a disability and that she was requesting a reasonable accommodation for a three-bedroom house that had the same floor plan as the three-bedroom house that she was currently living in. (Id. at 80). She had difficulty getting used to her environment and the three-bedroom house would give her a “place to feel more at ease” and help with her “physical” and “mental.” (Id.). With respect to her mental issues, she stated that changes to her environment caused her anxiety which brought on depression for long periods of time. (Id.). A three-bedroom house would also “benefit [her] because [she] was in school and [she needed] a place to study for [her] future classes in college.” (Id.). She identified Dr. Cesar Udani as the professional who could verify her disability and the need for the accommodation requested. (Id. at 79).

[1105]*1105On December 10, 2008, NRHA sent Dr. Udani a form for verification of disability and for reasonable accommodation. (Defs’ Ex. 6 (# 51-1) at 83). On January 8, 2009, Dr. Udani returned the verification form to NRHA. (Defs’ Ex. 7 (#51-1) at 86). The form stated that Weatherford had a disability and that she needed the requested accommodation to have an equal opportunity to use and enjoy her home. (Id. at 87). In response to the accommodation and why it was needed, Dr. Udani responded “ground level three bedroom place due to severe low back pain and lower extremity weakness. She has 2 children (1 in college who comes home on weekends). Also she needs a QUIET study room since she is in college.” (Id.).

On January 27, 2009, NRHA Housing Specialist Kimberle McKee sent Weather-ford a letter denying Weatherford’s request for a reasonable accommodation and informed Weatherford that, at her re-eertification on June 1, 2009, her payment standard would be lowered to a two-bedroom payment standard due to the size of her family. (Defs’ Ex. 9 (# 51-1) at 99).

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946 F. Supp. 2d 1101, 2013 WL 2179292, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 70568, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/weatherford-v-nevada-rural-housing-authority-nvd-2013.