Arnold v. Elmington Property Management LLC

On June 28, 2023, tenant Dorothy Arnold filed a federal lawsuit in Tennessee against Elmington Property Management LLC. Arnold, who has a disability, alleged she requested a reasonable accommodation to keep an emotional support animal in her apartment. She claimed the property management company denied her request and subsequently issued a notice to terminate her lease. The complaint asserted violations of the Fair Housing Act, including disability discrimination, failure to provide reasonable accommodation, and unlawful retaliation. The case highlighted tensions between no-pet policies and fair housing obligations.

The parties reached a confidential settlement agreement in early 2024 before trial, resulting in the case being dismissed with prejudice. No admission of liability was made.

Whether Elmington Property Management LLC's refusal to waive its no-pet policy for an emotional support animal and the ensuing lease termination constituted disability discrimination and retaliatory conduct in violation of the Fair Housing Act.

The case reinforced the legal requirements for property managers to seriously consider reasonable accommodation requests for emotional support animals, prompting many management companies in the region to review and update their accommodation policies and tenant communication procedures.