Park Owner Surrenders in AIDS Suit

A mobile home park owner has agreed to settle a federal housing discrimination lawsuit by paying a tenant $25,000 and dropping a threat to evict her because the AIDS-infected son she took in did not meet the park’s age requirements.

Federal officials said that the case was the first ever brought by the Justice Department alleging that a housing facility’s failure to waive its minimum age requirements for a person with AIDS violated the Fair Housing Act.

“This is good news,” said Suzanne Bell, a spokeswoman for the U.S. attorney’s office in Los Angeles, which filed the lawsuit earlier this year against the Huntington Shorecliffs Mobile Home Park on behalf of Shirley Lewis and her son, Steven.

The case arose in 1995 when Steven Lewis, 39, moved into a mobile home owned by his 61-year-old mother after becoming ill and needing her care. The 308-unit park on Beach Boulevard is restricted to residents who are at least 55 years old, or younger relatives of homeowners who are at least 45.

Instead of waiving that requirement to accommodate her son’s disability, as required by the federal Fair Housing Act, the park sent a notice reminding Shirley Lewis of the rules and threatening eviction, according to the suit.

The government suggested the son’s having AIDS was a factor. The lawsuit contended that the mobile home park had waived its minimum age requirements in at least two other cases not involving AIDS.

“It was the government’s contention that they were required to waive the rule,” Bell said. “What’s important is that housing providers are required to make reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities, regardless of the disability. This is very good for the Lewises; now they can enjoy the holidays and they can live without the threat of eviction.”

Evon Reeves, an assistant manager at the mobile home park, declined to comment on the settlement.

Under its provisions, park managers are permanently enjoined from evicting the Lewises--who still live there--because of Steven Lewis’ illness. They also will be required to attend educational training courses on housing discrimination and AIDS sensitivity, as well as send a letter to other park residents informing them that the Lewises can continue living there without jeopardizing the facility’s status as a mobile home park for seniors.

“There’s been a lot of tension,” said William Carolan, an attorney representing the mother and son, who were not available for comment on Tuesday. “The letter is to reduce the fear. Shirley wants to remain there as a friendly neighbor, not as somebody who has stirred up problems. I am very happy for Shirley and Steven--this was a long process, they had other priorities they needed to focus on and now they can do that.”