Comment on Maine human rights panel upholds findings of discrimination, retaliation

Maine human rights panel upholds findings of discrimination, retaliation

The Maine Human Rights Commission ruled Monday that a Norridgewock couple discriminated against a former tenant last summer by attempting to evict her for having a service dog and then retaliated against her for filing a fair housing complaint with the commission. The commission vote was 5-0 each on claims of discrimination and retaliation brought against property owners Oakley and Donna Brann of Norridgewock by Dawn Zammuto, whose daughter visited her home accompanied by a service dog last August despite the fact that the Branns had a no pets rule. The rulings Monday mean a 90-day conciliation will begin, during which the parties can attempt to settle the matter without going to court, according to commission case controller Cindy Rocque. Monetary damages are typical in such cases, said Patricia Ender, a staff attorney and fair housing coordinator at Pine Tree Legal Assistance, which is representing Zammuto. “There could be out-of-pocket costs, but there’s also actual damages, which include emotional distress damages in housing,” Ender said this month.

 

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