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Resort That Refused Black Family Pool Access Must Pay
US News ^ | 8/11/05

Posted on 08/11/2005 11:55:37 AM PDT by Tumbleweed_Connection

An extended African-American family, most of whom reside in Maryland, today announce the settlement of their discrimination claim against a vacation rental condominium resort in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, which barred them from using its swimming pool. Among other things, the settlement of the complaint filed by the Lawyers' Committee and the law firm of Sutherland Asbill & Brennan, provides the plaintiffs with monetary compensation, the amount of which cannot be disclosed under the agreement.

Over 100 African-American family members alleged that they were racially discriminated against when they stayed at Baytree III, part of the Baytree Plantation in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, for the Turner-Gray family reunion in July 2001. The plaintiffs alleged that shortly after they arrived for their family reunion weekend, Stuart Jenkins, property manager of Baytree III and president of the Homeowners' Association, padlocked and chained the entrance to the pool area closing it off to the reunion attendees. According to the complaint, the day after the reunion ended, Jenkins removed the padlock and chain and reopened the pool to guests, personally inviting white guests to use the pool during their stay.

"We selected Baytree as the site for our reunion in part because of its amenities, including the pool facilities," stated Gloria Turner-Simpkins, one of the plaintiffs who organized the family reunion. "But instead of being able to enjoy them, because of these discriminatory actions, we were humiliated and saddened, during what was meant to be an enjoyable family gathering," added Mrs. Turner-Simpkins.

In addition to monetary compensation, the Homeowners' Association agreed to issue a written apology to the family members, to conduct fair housing training for individuals involved in the day-today management of Baytree III, and to inform its members of its policy of non-discrimination.

"This settlement makes clear that such racist behavior and such blatant disregard for the law will not be tolerated," stated Charles Lester, a partner in the Atlanta office of Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP and one of the attorneys representing the plaintiffs.

"It is sad but true that in this day and age there are still those who want to stop African Americans from enjoying the same privileges as everyone else," said Barbara Arnwine, Executive Director of the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. "While no amount of money can make these family members whole for the racist acts they had to endure and to explain to their small children, this settlement does give them some measure of justice."


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: news; racism
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To: Tumbleweed_Connection
Good ...gump! Turn the clock back 50 years, ydoncha? Idiot. I guess there will always be atavistic Neanderthals among us like this hotel manager. Too bad that the reunion was already planned. This fine family was already locked in and could not just walk away with their dollars in their pockets. Who needs or wants to be around such jerks as those who own and manage this hotel anyhow?
81 posted on 08/11/2005 1:36:40 PM PDT by ArmyTeach (Pray daily for our troops...)
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To: Dolphan
I'm gonna get nailed for this but...private property owners should be allowed to restrict/admit whoever they please onto all or any of their property........

--------------------------------------------------

Not if they use the property in any publicly commercial way, such as renting.

82 posted on 08/11/2005 1:37:46 PM PDT by wtc911 (see my profile for how to contribute to a pentagon heroes fund)
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To: Responsibility1st

If it wasn't race related or they had any sort of a leg to stand on, why did they lose the case? Bad Lawyering?


83 posted on 08/11/2005 1:38:40 PM PDT by contemplator (Capitalism gets no Rock Concerts)
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To: LexBaird

Absolutely. Let the market decide.

About 10 years ago, a white couple attempted to rent a garage apartment from a black woman, who refused to rent to them because of their race.
She flat out told them that she didn't want to rent to white people.

Well, the couple got their panties in a wad over it and filed a suit. Of course, the black lady lost. A court decided that she had to rent to them even though it was HER garage attached to HER house on HER property.


84 posted on 08/11/2005 1:38:44 PM PDT by Skooz (Political Correctness is the handmaiden of terrorism)
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To: mhking

What a jerk! Glad the family won.


85 posted on 08/11/2005 1:40:07 PM PDT by najida (I officially have a home-- ~~sigh~~ with ice cubes even.)
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To: TheForceOfOne

"I wouldn't climb in a public pool if you paid me."

True, you'd be shocked how many kids are too lazy to get out of a pool to use the restroom to urinate. Facts can be ugly. Chlorine, it's your best friend.


86 posted on 08/11/2005 1:42:17 PM PDT by SunnySide (Ephes2:8 ByGraceYou'veBeenSavedThruFaithAGiftOfGodSoNoOneCanBoast)
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To: Responsibility1st

I meant to ask why they settled if they had a case. A countersuit for the cost of the lawyers and legal fees would seemed to have been in order in they had a leg to stand on.


87 posted on 08/11/2005 1:43:01 PM PDT by contemplator (Capitalism gets no Rock Concerts)
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To: ClaireSolt

"I am amazed that they didn't call police at the time."

It seems as though they didn't know the reason for the pool being closed. Sounds as though one or more of them suspected racism and went back day after check out to see if the pool was re-opened. Looks like they were right.


88 posted on 08/11/2005 1:45:09 PM PDT by melbell (A Freudian slip is when you mean one thing, and say your mother)
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To: untrained skeptic

" I'd like to hear the other side of this story, if there is another side."

I *imagine* that the court that ruled in the family's favor heard the hotel manager's side...


89 posted on 08/11/2005 1:47:19 PM PDT by melbell (A Freudian slip is when you mean one thing, and say your mother)
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To: Dolphan

Agreed again.


90 posted on 08/11/2005 1:47:43 PM PDT by Mulch (tm)
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To: netmilsmom
What's wrong with the family using the pool?

I guess he didnt wan't their blackness to come off in the water,

91 posted on 08/11/2005 1:51:36 PM PDT by montag813
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To: Dolphan
I'm gonna get nailed for this but...private property owners should be allowed to restrict/admit whoever they please onto all or any of their property.

You're not gonna be nailed by me. Par for the course for you. But I do have a question.

Why did this resort take these family members' money, then turned around and denied them access to all amenities at that resort?


92 posted on 08/11/2005 1:59:44 PM PDT by rdb3 (With my own Purple Haze, Jimi Hendrix never sounded so good...)
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To: rdb3
Thats a good point. If there was an exchange of money for service then he was legally and contractually bound to provide all services that any other paying guests would receive.
93 posted on 08/11/2005 2:06:22 PM PDT by Mulch (tm)
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To: Mulch
If there was an exchange of money for service then he was legally and contractually bound to provide all services that any other paying guests would receive.

And since this was the case, the race issue is a sideshow. What we have here is a clear breach of contract, unless that contract specifically denied these family members access to the pool. I highly doubt that it did.

Private property rights is also a sideshow. It's a clear breach of contract. No matter where one comes down on race, this is a bad business practice. That should be vociferously condemned by all of us.


94 posted on 08/11/2005 2:19:49 PM PDT by rdb3 (With my own Purple Haze, Jimi Hendrix never sounded so good...)
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To: Dolphan
Just exercising my personal property rights and right to freedom of association. I'm sure you will understand. Buh bye.
95 posted on 08/11/2005 2:23:02 PM PDT by Jim Robinson
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To: rdb3
Hey welcome back - hope you're on the mend!
96 posted on 08/11/2005 2:23:22 PM PDT by WhyisaTexasgirlinPA (Prayers for healing and relief from pain for Cowboy...........)
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To: rdb3

In this particular case, I would say you're right that it was a clear violation of an implied contract between the business owner and the customer.


97 posted on 08/11/2005 2:24:47 PM PDT by Mulch (tm)
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To: Dolphan

Dolphan aka Shaq ONeal, Guillermo II, Guillermo, et al, banned.


98 posted on 08/11/2005 2:26:14 PM PDT by Jim Robinson
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To: rdb3
And since this was the case, the race issue is a sideshow. What we have here is a clear breach of contract, unless that contract specifically denied these family members access to the pool. I highly doubt that it did.

Now THAT'S a good argument.

99 posted on 08/11/2005 2:28:18 PM PDT by LexBaird (tyrannosaurus Lex, unapologetic carnivore)
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To: LexBaird

-I'd like to keep clueless idiots off my property but they blend in with all the others.

-But then, where would you live?

Got me, LexBaird. I owe you one.


100 posted on 08/11/2005 2:28:58 PM PDT by BootsOnTheGround (A free America is the World's only hope.)
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