Housing Lawsuit Reaches Impasse

Mediation between the Hernando County Housing Authority and a man who says his Section 8 housing voucher was illegally revoked has reached an impasse.

Meanwhile, both sides have asked the court for a ruling in lieu of going to trial.

Derrel L. Thomas filed a suit against the authority in federal court in Tampa last year. Thomas claims that the authority violated his rights by taking away his Section 8 housing voucher without a formal hearing or notice, according to court documents.

The housing board voted to revoke Thomas's voucher last August because he had a woman and five children living in his unit at Oak Park Apartments in Brooksville and failed to provide the required 30-day notice when he moved out in July, court records show.

Thomas, who is representing himself, maintains the woman had her own address and custody of four of Thomas's children, records show. Thomas claims in court documents that he offered to turn in his voucher so the family could come under one voucher.

He claims retaliation came from housing authority Director Don Singer and staffers because he has criticized the authority for what he perceives as its "racial segregation." Thomas is asking for nearly $3 million in damages.

The housing authority counters that Thomas received a proper hearing on Aug. 22.

The court ordered the two sides to sit down to hash out an agreement. Those talks hit an impasse this week, court records show. The housing board is slated to meet Monday with its attorney, Lisa Oonk of the Tampa firm Litchfield and Cavo, to discuss the lawsuit.

Oonk declined comment on the suit. Singer was out of the office and could not be reached. Phone numbers listed in court records for Thomas were disconnected.

If the court rejects the requests for summary judgment, the trial is scheduled for December.