Key Takeaways:

Maryland Supreme Court allows lawsuit over alleged source-of-income discrimination

Ruling has major implications for application of the HOME Act statewide

Disparate impact claim sent back to lower court

A Baltimore woman may move forward with her lawsuit alleging that a landlord discriminates against people who pay with government-funded vouchers through its policy for determining renters’ ability to pay.

The Maryland Supreme Court ruled July 28 that Katrina Hare may bring a “disparate impact” claim against landlord David S. Brown Enterprises, which rejected her rental application because her income was less than two-and-a-half times the rent.

The case has major implications for renters’ rights, housing segregation and the reach of the HOME Act, a 2020 state law

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