July 16, 2008
Media Contact: Sandi Copes
Phone: (850) 245-0150
Sarasota County RV Park Resolves Civil Rights Investigation with Former Park Resident
TALLAHASSEE, FL – Attorney General Bill McCollum today announced that his Office of Civil Rights has reached an agreement with a Sarasota County RV park, resolving allegations of potential civil rights violations against a former resident of the park. The RV park, now under new ownership, paid former resident Francis Gregory $7,500 in damages to resolve a complaintGregory filed with the Florida Commission on Human Relations against Venice Real Estate Holding Co., the company that formerly owned the RV park. The company that currently owns the park, Myakka River RV Resorts, LLC , also reimbursed the state for the cost of its investigation.
Gregory was a resident of Myakka River RV Parkfrom May or June 2001 through May 2007. Numerous events, some involving her young grandchildren, led Gregory to file the complaint alleging racial and familial status discrimination in violation of the Fair Housing Act. In January 2007, the Florida Commission on Human Relations issued a notice of determination of cause, indicating the Commission had found reasonable cause to believe that a discriminatory housing practice had occurred. Gregory elected for the Attorney General’s Office of Civil Rights to represent her in the dispute.
At the time of the finding of reasonable cause, the park had been sold to Myakka River RV Resorts. The new owners met with the Attorney General’s Office of Civil Rights and agreed to revise the rules which were the subject of the complaint. Under the agreement reached with the Attorney General’s Office, the company also agreed to pay $7,500 in damages to Gregory and to reimburse the state $2,500 for attorneys’ fees and costs.