Unmarried couple denied occupancy permits brings suit against city

The St. Louis Missouri unmarried couple with three children who were denied a housing permit because they are not married (see Family Law Prof Blog posting 3/19/06) have now filed suit.  The suit, filed on their behalf by the American Civil Liberties Union on Thursday, claimed that the town of Black Jack's housing law violates the state and U.S. constitutions, as well as the Federal Fair Housing Act. It seeks unspecified damages.The ordinance prohibits more than three people from living together unless they are related by ''blood, marriage or adoption.''The ACLU said Foundray Loving, Olivia Shelltrack and their school-age children are facing fines of up to $500 per week for living in their five-bedroom home in the suburb of 6,800 because Loving is not the biological father of Shelltrack's oldest child, and the couple are not married.

Read the New York Times story on the suit (last visited August 11, 2006 bgf)
Read the petition