Curated News
By: NewsRamp Editorial Staff
August 20, 2025
Court Rules Minneapolis Must Face Public Housing Discrimination Lawsuit
TLDR
- Public housing residents can now leverage this legal victory to demand equal inspection services and hold Minneapolis accountable for decades of neglect.
- The Minnesota Court of Appeals rejected immunity claims, finding the city violated ministerial duties by failing to systematically inspect public housing dwellings.
- This ruling ensures public housing residents receive equal protection and habitable living conditions, advancing housing justice for vulnerable communities.
- A 2025 court opinion overturned 30 years of alleged neglect, granting public housing residents equal inspection rights as private renters.
Impact - Why it Matters
This ruling matters because it addresses deep-seated inequities in public housing, where low-income residents have historically been denied basic protections like routine inspections and safe living conditions that are standard for private renters. It challenges systemic neglect that perpetuates poverty and health risks, as substandard housing can lead to issues like mold, pests, and structural hazards, disproportionately affecting vulnerable communities. By allowing the lawsuit to proceed, the court empowers residents to seek accountability and could force cities nationwide to reevaluate and improve public housing standards, ensuring that everyone, regardless of income, has access to habitable and legally compliant homes. This case highlights the critical role of judicial oversight in enforcing civil rights and promoting social justice, potentially leading to broader reforms that reduce housing disparities and enhance quality of life for thousands.
Summary
In a landmark decision that challenges decades of systemic neglect, the Minnesota Court of Appeals has ruled that neither the City of Minneapolis nor the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority (MPHA) are immune from a civil rights lawsuit alleging discriminatory housing practices. The lawsuit, led by public housing residents Kimberly Lowry and Jeanne Harris and filed in 2021, accuses the City of violating the Minnesota Human Rights Act by failing to conduct routine inspections of public housing units while performing them for private rentals. Additionally, MPHA is accused of operating without proper rental licenses and maintaining unsafe, uninhabitable dwellings, creating a stark disparity in living conditions between public and private housing residents.
The legal battle saw both defendants initially seeking summary judgment based on immunity claims, with the district court granting MPHA's motion before a reassigned judge denied the City's. The appellate court's unanimous reversal and affirmation, articulated by Judge Schmidt, emphasized that the City's duty to inspect all rental dwellings is ministerial and not shielded by immunity. For MPHA, the court found material facts regarding whether licensing enforcement could have prevented residents' injuries, allowing the case to proceed to trial. Lead attorney Anna P. Prakash of Nichols Kaster, PLLP hailed the opinion as a critical step toward justice, highlighting the decades-long denial of essential services to low-income tenants compared to their private-sector counterparts.
The case, Lowry et al. v. City of Minneapolis et al., is backed by a robust legal team including attorneys from Nichols Kaster—a firm with over 50 years of experience in civil rights and a recent First Tier ranking in Litigation-Labor and Employment by U.S. News-Best Lawyers®. This ruling not only advances the merits of the residents' claims but also sets a precedent for holding municipal and housing authorities accountable for equitable service delivery, potentially reshaping public housing standards nationwide and ensuring that economic status does not dictate housing quality or legal protections.
Source Statement
This curated news summary relied on content disributed by 24-7 Press Release. Read the original source here, Court Rules Minneapolis Must Face Public Housing Discrimination Lawsuit
