Meyer v. Holley, 537 U.S. 280 (2003), was a case in which the Supreme Court of the United States held that the Fair Housing Act imposes strict liability on residential real estate corporations for racial discrimination, but the officers and owners of the corporation generally will not be held vicariously liable for offenses committed by the corporation's employees of agents.[1] In a unanimous opinion written by Justice Stephen Breyer, the Court held that the Fair Housing Act "imposes liability without fault upon the employer in accordance with traditional agency principles, i. e., it normally imposes vicarious liability upon the corporation but not upon its officers or owners."[2]
Meyer v. Holley | |
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Argued December 3, 2002 Decided January 22, 2003 | |
Full case name | Meyer v. Holley et al. |
Citations | 537 U.S. 280 (more) 123 S. Ct. 824; 154 L. Ed. 2d 753 |
Case history | |
Prior | Holley v. Crank, 258 F.3d 1127 (9th Cir. 2001); cert. granted, 535 U.S. 1077 (2002). |
Court membership | |
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Case opinion | |
Majority | Breyer, joined by unanimous |
Laws applied | |
Fair Housing Act (42 U.S.C. § 3604(b); 42 U.S.C. § 3605(a)) |
See also
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editExternal links
edit- Text of Meyer v. Holley, 537 U.S. 280 (2003) is available from: Findlaw Justia Library of Congress Oyez (oral argument audio)