On May 7, 2024, Relman Colfax filed a Complaint against Texas homebuilders Bella Vista Homes, Legend Homes, and Camillo Properties (collectively, “Bella Vista”). The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, alleges that Bella Vista discriminates against persons with disabilities, in violation of the federal and Texas Fair Housing Acts.
The federal complaint describes how Bella Vista refuses to allow changes to the floor plans for their new construction, single family homes in order to add accessibility features. These reasonable modifications include installing grab bars in the bathroom, a roll-in shower, accessible routes from the garage door and back patio into the home, and doorframes wide enough for a wheelchair to pass through. As set forth in the complaint, Bella Vista refuses to allow the changes during construction even when a consumer proposes to pay for all costs associated with the modifications.
The lawsuit is brought on behalf the Fair Housing Center of South Texas (FHCST), an organization dedicated to promoting fair housing and eliminating discriminatory housing practices in rental housing, real estate, mortgage lending, homeowners’ insurance, home appraisals, zoning, and land use. FHCST serves the residents of San Antonio, Bexar County, and 36 other counties in South Texas.
The Relman Colfax litigation team includes Reed Colfax and Nick Abbott, with paralegal assistance from Emma Block.
A copy of the Complaint is here.