ACLJ Secures $90,000 Damage Award for Christian Home for Abused and Abandoned Children in Arkansas

IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 27, 2011

ACLJ SECURES $90,000 DAMAGE AWARD FOR CHRISTIAN HOME FOR ABUSED AND ABANDONED CHILDREN IN ARKANSAS

(Washington, DC) – The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), which focuses on constitutional law, said today it has secured a settlement agreement for a Christian organization in Arkansas that wants to provide housing for abused and abandoned children. After a federal court determined that the City of Jonesboro, Arkansas discriminated against King's Ranch by refusing to permit the organization to operate the facility, the City has now approved a settlement agreement paying King's Ranch $90,000 in damages, funds that will be used to finance its project.

"Settlement of this case will finally allow King’s Ranch to carry out the important and life-changing mission it has fought so hard to do these past three years: to provide abused, neglected and abandoned children a loving home that promotes healing and restoration," said ACLJ Attorney Abby Southerland.

In 2010, the ACLJ filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of King's Ranch in the Eastern District of Arkansas against the City of Jonesboro for violation of the Fair Housing Act. In April, a federal district court granted the ACLJ's motion for summary judgment in the case and concluded that city's actions in denying King’s Ranch a permit to operate a children’s home for abused, neglected, and abandoned children violated the Fair Housing Act and ordered the city to clear the way for the organization to house up to 8 children on its 10 acre property. As the court put it: "the City of Jonesboro presents absolutely no evidence to suggest that King's Ranch's . . . request is unreasonable." In a settlement agreement approved by the City Council of Jonesboro, the City agrees to pay King's Ranch $90,000 in damages for its illegal zoning actions. The settlement agreement now clears the way for King's Ranch to move forward with its vision.

King's Ranch founders Eddie and Lee Cooper: "God began to lead us to share what He had given us to provide a place for the children to live where they could be loved and cared for, taught and trained, and most importantly introduced to the true source of love – Jesus Christ! We became convinced that HE was the only one who could truly rescue them and heal their broken hearts."

The ACLJ was assisted in this case by Jim Gramling of Marshall & Owens in Jonesboro, Arkansas.

Led by Chief Counsel Jay Sekulow, the American Center for Law and Justice focuses on constitutional law and is based in Washington, D.C. The ACLJ is online at www.aclj.org.