Department of Fair Employment & Housing v. Superior Court

**Housing Discrimination Investigation Blocked by Court** The California Department of Fair Employment and Housing was investigating possible housing discrimination by the Mattox Trust and property manager Nancy Keller. The department wanted to examine rental applications and tenant information to determine if discrimination had occurred in their rental practices. However, when the department tried to force the property manager and trust to turn over these documents, they refused. The court sided with the property manager and trust, denying the department's request to compel them to produce the documents. This meant the housing discrimination investigation could not access the rental records it needed to proceed effectively. **What This Means for Workers:** This ruling highlights the challenges that anti-discrimination agencies face when investigating housing discrimination cases. When landlords or property managers refuse to cooperate with investigations, it becomes much harder to prove discrimination occurred. For workers who believe they've faced housing discrimination based on their employment status, income source, or other protected characteristics, this case shows that enforcement agencies may face significant obstacles in gathering evidence. Workers experiencing housing discrimination should document their interactions carefully and consider consulting with advocacy organizations, as official investigations may encounter roadblocks in accessing crucial evidence.