Legal Center Moves to Stop Unconstitutional Fair Housing Shakedowns
LEGAL CENTER MOVES TO STOP UNCONSTITUTIONAL “FAIR HOUSING” SHAKEDOWNS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 24, 2025
Dayton nonprofit hires actors to manufacture discrimination by entrapping and shakedown unsuspecting homeowners.
Dayton, OH – The 1851 Center for Constitutional Law today moved to strip Ohio fair housing organizations of standing to sue when they manufacture housing discrimination claims by hiring actors to surveil and entrap Ohioans.
The action is brought on behalf of Kettering homeowner Saurin Shah. Mr. Shah told an actor hired by Miami Valley Fair Housing Agency that he would need to see paperwork proving that a hypothetical dog the actor referenced owning was indeed a medical service animal before waiving the typical pet deposit associated with renting the home.
Miami Valley’s surveillance and entrapment efforts are funded by several million dollars in federal grants provided to it and other private Ohio “fair housing organizations” by the Biden Administration. The Trump Administration discontinued these grants in February of 2025, but did not recovery money handed out by the prior administration.
Through its Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings, the 1851 Center explains that Miami Valley brings dozens of these claims every year, all following the same unethical blueprint:
- Undercover surveillance of homeowners with paid actors pretending to be interested in housing.
- The actors repeatedly attempt to induce landlords into making a statement that may arguably violate the exceptionally broad prohibitions of the Fair Housing Act.
- Miami Valley files complaints against these owners in federal court, and serves the complaint and a settlement agreement together, offering to dismiss the case in exchange for a cash payment, usually between $10,000 and $14,000.
- Miami Valley also often attempts to coerce the homeowners into pay $125 per hour to Miami Valley for “fair housing reeducation” classes.
Through its Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings, the 1851 Center explains that a 2024 Supreme Court decision barring standing to sue for activists who are not themselves victimized, applies to Ohio fair housing activists’ when there is no actual victim of discrimination.
“The supply of housing discrimination does not meet these activists’ demand for it, so left-wing activists and lawyers manufacture more discrimination to pad their bank accounts,” explained 1851 Center Executive Director Maurice Thompson. “This case attempts to limit the use of taxpayer funds to nongovernmental private entities attacking the property rights of the same taxpayers forced to fund them.”
Over half of all housing discrimination claims now arise from claims by tenants that their pets are medically-necessary emotional support devices. Activists claim that “no pet” policies and even pet-related security deposits violate the Fair Housing Act.
The case is pending before Judge Newman in the federal district court in the Southern District of Ohio.
Read the 1851 Center’s Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings and Reply in Support here and here.
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The 1851 Center for Constitutional Law is a nonprofit, nonpartisan legal center dedicated to protecting the constitutional rights of Ohioans from government abuse. The 1851 Center litigates constitutional issues related to property rights, regulation, taxation, and searches and seizures.
