East Hampton Housing Authority settles federal suit; agrees to new accommodation policy and $82,500 payout

The East Hampton Housing Authority has settled a federal lawsuit alleging it violated a minor's civil rights by prohibiting the child from living with an emotional-support dog for 19 months, LTV reported.

According to a release from U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocela Jr. of the Eastern District of New York, the housing authority "agreed to adopt a reasonable-accommodation policy regarding request for assistance animals," will undergo training and compliance monitoring, and will pay the family $82,500 in damages. The complaint arose between 2021 and 2022 when the child was not permitted to have the dog the child’s disability requires.

The broadcast characterized the settlement as significant for tenants of the East Hampton Housing Authority, which manages affordable apartment complexes in town, and said that under the settlement all tenants will be able to request reasonable accommodations for assistance animals under the Fair Housing Act.

LTV said it reached out to the housing authority for comment but did not hear back before airtime. The report attributed the information to the U.S. Attorney's release and did not include direct quotes from housing-authority officials on camera.

Next steps stated in the release include the adoption of a written accommodation policy and training; the broadcast did not specify a timeline for implementation or monitoring details beyond the text of the U.S. Attorney's release.