Justice Department settles discrimination lawsuit

WASHINGTON - The Justice Department has settled its lawsuit in a Tennessee case involving whether housing complexes discriminated on the basis of disability.

The complaint accused 11 defendants involved in the design and construction of 11 multifamily complexes in Tennessee, Alabama, Louisiana and Texas.

According to a news release Friday by the department, the defendants will retrofit the complexes containing more than 800 units covered by the Fair Housing Act.

The settlement still must be approved by the U.S. District Court in West Tennessee because the complaint was originally filed in Memphis.

The defendants also will have to pay up to $117,000 to compensate individuals.

The complexes involved are in Gulf Shores, Ala.; Memphis; Lafayette, La.; West Monroe, La.; Shreveport, La., and Tyler, Texas.