The Miami Valley Fair Housing Center Inc. has filed a federal lawsuit against an Ohio rental company, alleging discrimination against a prospective tenant with a service animal. The suit, filed Friday in Ohio federal court, accuses Red Paradise LLC, Paradise Residency LLC, and their associated management team of violating fair housing laws. According to the fair housing group, the rental company discriminated against a disabled individual by charging illegal fees for a service animal.

The complaint stems from a 2022 interaction in which a fair housing tester posed as a potential tenant with a disabled child requiring a service animal. After initial confirmation over the phone that the service animal would not be an issue, the tester was told during an in-person tour of the rental that they would need to pay a $300 pet deposit and additional fees for the animal. When the tester clarified that the service animal was not a pet, but a medical device, the property agent did not alter the terms, the suit claims.

The Miami Valley Fair Housing Center, which conducted the investigation, reported the incident to the Ohio Civil Rights Commission. In February 2024, the commission issued a determination that it was probable the defendants had discriminated against the disabled individual, violating both state and federal fair housing laws.

The fair housing center has emphasized that the case goes beyond a single incident, stating that its resources were stretched in addressing the alleged discriminatory practices, diverting efforts from other key initiatives, such as training programs and investigating other housing providers.

The organization is seeking an order from the court to stop the defendants' alleged discriminatory practices and to require fair housing training for their employees. "Applicants should not encounter barriers to obtaining reasonable accommodations," said C. Jacob Davis, legal counsel for the group. The case, Miami Valley Fair Housing Center Inc. v. Paradise Residency LLC et al., is filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio.