Published:
Sterling Trust Settles Bias Case
LOS ANGELES - (BUSINESS WIRE) - Insurers for the Sterling Family Trust agreed to settle a lawsuit filed
against it by fair housing attorneys alleging claims of housing
discrimination, said Robert Platt, lead counsel for the Trust and a
partner at Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP, in Los Angeles.
"After three years of litigation, the fair housing attorneys could not
prove a single violation of the Fair Housing Act," Platt said. "My
clients vehemently and unequivocally deny that anyone was discriminated
against. Nevertheless, the insurance companies for the Trust decided to
settle the case because the cost of continued litigation far exceeded
the cost of settlement."
For decades, Platt said, the Trust has had a zero tolerance policy
prohibiting all forms of housing discrimination, and the Trust has
conducted extensive fair housing training.
"The expert testimony from the case also conclusively confirmed that the
Trust did not discriminate against anyone," added Platt. "The fair
housing attorneys could not identify a single individual who was
wrongfully denied the right to rent an apartment from the Trust. In
fact, not a single individual has ever been subjected to any
discrimination by my clients."
Faced with these facts, the fair housing attorneys agreed to settle the
case without a determination of liability. As part of the settlement,
the Trust expressly denied any liability and agreed to allow the
insurance companies to fund the settlement.
About Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP
Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP, provides legal and consulting services
to a global client base from offices in Los Angeles, Orange County, Palo
Alto, San Francisco, and Sacramento, California; New York City and
Albany, New York; and Washington, D.C. Manatt includes Manatt Health
Solutions, a healthcare policy and strategic business advisory group,
and ManattJones Global Strategies, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary that
develops and implements strategies to expand client businesses and
facilitate their effective competition in global markets. For more
information, visit www.manatt.com,
www.manatthealthsolutions.com,
and www.manattjones.com.
Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP
Lawrence Martinez, 310-231-5443
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