Litigating Fair Housing Cases

Description

The Litigating Fair Housing Cases course is designed for those who are involved in FHIP and FHAP litigation to understand and apply the methods and strategies for effective fair housing enforcement.

Presented topics include:

Pre-cause/pre-litigation case analysis
Transitioning from investigation to litigation
Prompt judicial action and injunctive relief, discovery, damages and attorney fees, pre-trial preparation, post-filing conciliation, motion practice, and trials

Participants will engage with experts to learn time saving techniques in litigation and will learn by reviewing and discussing a variety of cases. This course is practical, based on actual cases, and highly interactive as participants will have many opportunities to ask questions, strategize, share their experiences, and learn from peers.

Course Objectives

After completing the course, participants will be able to:

Understand the methods and strategies for effective fair housing enforcement
Learn the benefits of counsel’s pre-filing involvement in fair housing cases and how to transition from investigation to enforcement
Apply applicable theories of liability and proof elements to determine reasonable cause and to develop a systemic, comprehensive method for conducting discovery and engaging in trial preparation
Hear from experts on how to handle cases from the time of a charge/court complaint through the nuts and bolts of litigation to completion
Learn time saving techniques in litigating cases, as well as guidance and strategies from experts and peers

Eligibility Criteria

Role and Experience: Participants should have at least 3 years of fair housing experience or comparable civil rights experience. Participants should also be licensed attorneys or legal assistants.

Commitment: Participants must agree to:

Attend all 4 classes
Complete the pre-work and homework
Actively participate in the training by embracing new learning and skills and building relationships with others

Attendees Allowed Per Agency

Due to limited capacity, only one staff member per agency is permitted to attend this course. Please coordinate with other staff members at your agency, and select a single person to submit a registration request.

Materials

View the Litigating Fair Housing Cases Resources.

Time

4 day course with 3 hours of instruction daily

Contact

For questions regarding the course, email nfhta@hudexchange.info.

About NFHTA

NFHTA provides knowledge, skill, and capacity building opportunities necessary to end housing discrimination in all its forms. The Academy features virtual and in-person courses and resources for FHIP and FHAP staff of all experience levels.

Learn About NFHTA

Note: The National Fair Housing Training Academy provides training by and to HUD partners, including entities and persons participating in HUD's Fair Housing Assistance Program and its Fair Housing Initiatives Program. The views offered by speakers and participants do not necessarily reflect HUD's views. Similarly, unless otherwise noted, documents provided as part of the training were created and maintained by the Academy and may not reflect HUD's official position. HUD-produced guidance documents as well as Academy training materials, except when based on statutory or regulatory authority or law, do not have the force and effect of law and are not meant to bind the public in any way. Such guidance documents are intended only to provide clarity to Academy students regarding existing requirements under the law or HUD policies. The information is not intended to provide legal advice to any individual or entity. Please refer to relevant laws and regulations and/or your own legal advisor before taking any action based on information in Academy materials. Some materials have been translated into languages other than English; slight variations may have resulted from the translation.