Barking Up the Wrong Elevator Print
Thursday, May 25 2017

A Chicago woman sued her condominium association, claiming she was the victim of housing discrimination because she was forced to share the elevator with dogs.

Holly Geraci, who occupies a penthouse apartment with her husband, a prominent bankruptcy attorney, said her fear of large dogs amounted to a disability under the Fair Housing Act.

A jury disagreed, finding in favor of the condo association.

"They didn't believe that Holly Geraci actually suffered from a disability as it's defined by the Fair Housing Act," said Graham Miller, an attorney representing the condo association.

According to news reports, when the Geracis moved into the development, the association didn't allow dogs, but it made an exception for the Geraci's older Cairn terrier, which weighed 10 pounds. In 2004, the building opened the door for dogs of all kinds. Geraci claimed her fear applied to large dogs.

Source: chicagotribune.com