Housing Authority sued for race discrimination

“We haven’t been served any papers yet,” says City Attorney Allyson Davies, explaining that the suit should have been filed against CRHA itself, and not the City of Charlottesville.


City sued for alleged racial bias: Former Housing Authority manager says whites got special treatment

BY DAVID T. ROISEN, C-ville weekly
Issue #18.28 :: 07/11/2006 - 07/18/2006

A former employee of Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority is suing the City of Charlottesville to the tune of $300,000. Angela Estes, who worked as a property manager for CRHA in 2005, claims in her lawsuit that her former employer discriminated against her because she is black.

Estes alleges that she was denied training, time off, overtime pay and the use of a CRHA vehicle in the execution of her duties. By contrast, the suit claims that white CRHA employees were given the use of official vehicles and training and received overtime pay and time off. The suit also calls the City’s actions “willful, wanton and malicious” and claims they “were calculated to cause her harm.”

CRHA director Noah Schwartz declined to comment.

In addition to the $300,000 in compensatory and punitive damages, Estes is seeking compensation for overtime and an official apology from the City.

“We haven’t been served any papers yet,” says City Attorney Allyson Davies, explaining that the suit should have been filed against CRHA itself, and not the City of Charlottesville.

“That is a technicality,” countered Estes’ attorney Martin Hogan. “I think there is more than sufficient grounds to bring this cause of action.”

Editor's Note: City Council will hear a Housing Authority report Monday, July 17. The regular council meeting begins at 7pm in City Hall at east end of Downtown Mall across from Free Speech monument.