Fair Housing of Marin v. Combs

2002

Court: 9th Circuit Court

Facts: Combs racially discriminates against black tenants. A giant penalty ($24K compensatiry, $74K punitive, and $508K attorney's fees) is imposed.

Posture: Found liable at trial, giant penalty is imposed. Appeal.

Issue: Did the court abuse its discretion imposing this penalty?

Holding: No.

Rule: The Supreme Court has specifically said that awards of attorney's fees in civil rights cases don't have to be proportionate with other damages.

Reasoning: There's really nothing here that suggests the court abused its discretion. Most of the opinion is spent explaining why Fair Housing has standing to sue.

Dicta: