Protecting Civil RightsExposing InjusticeFighting for Fairness

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  Jane Doe #1 v. Mukwonago Area School District

  On June 30, 2023, Relman Colfax filed this gender discrimination lawsuit against the Mukwonago Area School District (MASD) and its superintendent, Joe Koch, for denying Jane Doe #1, an eleven-year-old transgender girl, access to girls’ restrooms at school. (The girl’s name is being withheld to protect her privacy.) The complaint raises claims under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and the Equal Protection Clause.                                                                                                                              

  Education / Jane Doe #1 v. Mukwonago Area School District

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  Remedying Disparate Treatment of Sapelo Island’s Black Gullah Geechee Community

  In August 2022, Relman Colfax settled an historic case challenging the failure of McIntosh County and the State of Georgia to provide equal services to the largest intact Gullah Geechee community in Georgia. Plaintiffs had alleged that Defendants failed to provide adequate water, emergency medical, fire, road maintenance, trash, and accessible ferry services to members of the community.                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

  Public Accommodations / Drayton et al. v. McIntosh County, Georgia

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  Challenging Educational Reverse Redlining

  On October 17, 2024, U.S. District Judge Julie R. Rubin granted final approval of a $28.5 million proposed settlement of a class action lawsuit filed by Relman Colfax and co-counsel the National Student Legal Defense Network against Walden University (“Walden”), a for-profit university that offers online degree programs. The lawsuit was filed on January 7, 2022 and brought claims under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (“ECOA”) and Minnesota state law. Plaintiffs alleged that Walden engaged in “reverse redlining” by intentionally targeting Black and female students for what it falsely represented to be cost- and time-effective online degree programs, but that actually amounted to an expensive predatory scheme.

  Education / Carroll et al. v. Walden University, LLC et al.

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  Ensuring Equal Treatment of Foreclosed Properties Across the Nation

  In February 2022, Relman Colfax settled one of the largest fair housing cases in the nation’s history, securing a significant victory for communities of color that were hit hard by the foreclosure crisis. As a result of the $53 million settlement, tens of millions of dollars will be invested in homeownership promotion, neighborhood stabilization, access to credit, property rehabilitation, and residential development.                                                                                                                                                                

  Fair Housing / NFHA v. Fannie Mae

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  Relman Colfax Remembers Colleague and Friend Travis Beck

  Relman Colfax remembers our colleague and friend, Travis Beck, who passed away on October 10, 2022.

News & Updates