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The lawyers filed four lawsuits for violations of the Fair Housing Act and won all four cases, receiving damages and punitive damages. They will also seek reimbursement of their legal fees. Matthew Zimmerman, partner at Holland & Knight, Philip Rothschild, counsel, Courtney Oakes, associate lawyer and Denita Jones, legal aid litigator, and Carmen Draper, paralegal, represented Ms. Fox. Ms. Jones and Ms. Oakes were instrumental in presenting the process. About Palm Beach County Legal Services: The Palm Beach County Legal Aid Society is committed to providing high-quality civil counseling, representation, and education to disadvantaged people in Palm Beach County to protect their personal safety, improve their opportunities and living conditions, and promote self-sufficiency. Legal Aid`s work helps our clients meet many of life`s most basic needs: a safe home, enough food, quality education, and protection from exploitation and discrimination. For more information, call www.legalaidpbc.org or call 800-403-9353. The Palm Beach County Legal Aid Society provides disadvantaged people with quality civil law advice, representation and education to protect their personal safety, improve their opportunities and living conditions, and promote self-sufficiency. The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex. The Eleventh District Court of Appeals confirmed for the first time in a remarkable appeal previously handled by the Legal Aid Society in this case that sexual harassment is a form of discrimination based on sex.

After winning the appeal, Legal Aid and Holland & Knight joined forces for the trial. Since 1949, Legal Aid of Palm Beach County has been helping the most vulnerable and fragile citizens in our community access their basic rights to housing, food, health care, safety, education and more. Our lawyers and staff give a voice to those who are not heard and give them a chance to meet many of life`s most basic needs. “This case was an ideal collaboration between Holland & Knight`s pro bono project and Legal Aid to protect vulnerable tenants, particularly single mothers, and ensure fair housing for Ms. Fox and the citizens of Palm Beach County,” said Matthew Zimmerman, partner in Holland & Knight`s West Palm Beach office. “We are grateful to the court and jury for their hard work and consideration on this important issue.” WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (Aug. 1, 2022) – Holland & Knight attorneys have partnered with the Palm Beach County Legal Aid Society to secure a decisive victory in litigation and punitive damages for a single mother evicted from her home due to alleged sexual harassment by her landlord. The information contained on this website is provided for general information purposes only and does not imply any specific endorsement by the Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland of the provider or services it offers.

Information is provided by “not-for-profit and government organizations” and submissions are reviewed to ensure they are appropriate. Although we strive to keep the information current and correct, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, as to the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the information and/or services offered by the providers in this directory. Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County, Inc. Domestic Violence Initiation Project and Injunction Elder Law Project, Immigration Advocacy Project None of this would be possible without the support of lawyers, corporations, funders and donors like you, who have given us the privilege of changing countless lives. “It`s been a long struggle for Ms. Fox, but she`s stayed strong through everything,” Jones said. “We are pleased to have achieved a positive result and are grateful for the opportunity to work with Holland & Knight. We hope that this case will serve as a catalyst for women around the world to know that they have the right to use and enjoy their homes, free from sexual harassment and gender discrimination. Rita Fox`s case v.

Dana Gaines and Lucille Gaines was a four-day federal jury trial. The Jupiter apartment complex in Florida is owned by Lucille Gaines. His son, Dana Gaines, is the property manager and is responsible for day-to-day operations. Mr. Gaines allegedly harassed Ms. Fox and urged her to obtain sexual favours in exchange for a rent reduction and to live in the complex. Mr. Gaines persisted, refused to withdraw, and because Ms.

Fox had very limited housing and a small child to provide, she agreed to his requests. Ms. Fox then terminated the relationship. Lord. Gaines then fired back, accusing Ms Fox of late rent payments and rule violations, and took steps to evict her and her child from the apartment. At the hearing, Ms. Fox`s experimental team pointed out that a landlord cannot remove a tenant`s sleeping space because the tenant did not want to sleep with the landlord.