Kennedy Hunt P.C. Fair Housing Case Against the City of Springfield

The Illinois Times recently profiled Kennedy Hunt P.C.’s major jury trial win in a years-long Fair Housing case the firm filed in 2016. 

On July 26, a federal jury rendered a verdict for $293,000 in damages against the City of Springfield to victims of the City’s unlawful attempts to close a home where people with intellectual and developmental disabilities lived. Kennedy Hunt P.C. represents the Individual Advocacy Group and Mary B. Valencia, sister and guardian of Alan Dennis, one of the residents who died in 2017. Read more about the case and win here. 

“This has been a long road to justice,” managing partner Sarah Jane Hunt told the Illinois Times. “My clients fought for six years to get this case to trial despite the city’s numerous delay tactics and attempts to stonewall.” 

Valencia told the Illinois Times she was “beyond ecstatic” after the verdict.  “I feel like I can finally lay Alan to rest,” Valencia said. “This case is now part of his wonderful legacy, and I am very proud of the result.” 

Charlene Bennett, CEO of Individual Advocacy Group said, “These are three innocent men who are lovely human beings that wanted to live a life. They just happened to have a disability. There was nothing they did wrong. … It’s just sad, in this day and age, that this kind of behavior, and in my view, unnecessary hardships, occurred.” 

We are thrilled with the outcome of this long, hard-fought case. The attorneys at Kennedy Hunt P.C. are experts in housing law. If you are someone you know  has been a victim of housing discrimination, fill out our questionnaire. We may be able to help you.