United States Of America V. Aqua 388 Community Association Et Al

Case Background

On April 03, 2024, the United States of America filed a Fair Housing Act (FHA) lawsuit alleging disability discrimination on behalf of Dr. Emma Adams against the managers of the condominium she resided in. The lawsuit revolved around the refusal of condominium managers and associated entities to provide a reserved, van-accessible parking space for Adams, a paraplegic resident. Later on, Adams filed an intervenor complaint seeking a jury trial for compensatory and punitive damages. This lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court, California Central (Western Division - Los Angeles). It was assigned to Judge Stanley Blumenfeld, Jr and referred to Magistrate Judge Jean P. Rosenbluth. [Case number: 2:23cv2498]

Cause

Defendant Aqua 388 Community Association (“Aqua 388”) managed the common areas of a high-rise condominium at 388 East Ocean Boulevard in Long Beach, California. Aqua Maintenance oversaw the shared parking garage, while FirstService Residential managed the property. Christopher Harrington served as the General Manager, and Rebecca Hawkins acted as the Management Agent. The property included 888 parking spaces, with only 19 designated for individuals with disabilities. Of these, four were suitable for wheelchair-accessible vans. Plaintiff Dr. Emma Adams, a resident with paraplegia who uses a wheelchair, faced significant challenges accessing a van-accessible space after purchasing her unit in 2016. Dr. Adams requested reasonable accommodations six times, beginning in January 2017. She explained her need for a space with eight feet