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MARQUETTE -- The Michigan Civil Rights Commission issued a ruling on Monday in a case between Marquette landlord Jeffrey Cornock of Cornock Rental Properties and former tenant Kaylee Franz.
The case was over Cornock denying Franz's request for a reasonable accommodation to have an Emotional Support Animal on the premises due to her disability, failing to renew a tenant's lease because of her disability and retaliating against the tenant because she engaged in a protected activity under Michigan's Persons with Disabilities Civil Rights Act.
According to a statement released by the Michigan Department of Civil Rights, Cornock Rental Properties operates an 11-unit apartment building in Marquette, where Franz lived in 2020. In June of that year, Franz requested, via text message, for an accommodation for an ESA, as one had been prescribed by her psychiatrist.
"Cornock responded the following day that he would not allow pets unless Franz was being treated by a 'local doctor and psychiatrist' and that she would need to 'sign a medical release form' so that he could "get the medical records from both of them,'" said MDCR's statement. "Following a series of text messages, a phone call took place where Cornock informed Franz that if she were to get an ESA, her rent would increase by one-third due to damage caused by animals.”
Franz began working with the Fair Housing Center of West Michigan, informing Cornock of ESA provisions in the Fair Housing Act. When Cornock was contacted by an enforcement coordinator from the FHCWM, he "stated that Franz did not appear to have a disability, questioned the validity of the request, and indicated that he needed information that was included in the previously delivered packet. The Coordinator from FHCWM re-sent the information multiple times over the course of a month; however, Cornock did not follow up with either Franz or FHCWM."
In January 2021, Franz filed a complaint of discrimination with MDCR against Cornock Rental Properties and Jeffery Cornock for failure to accommodate her disability. In April 2021, Franz received a letter informing her that her lease would not be renewed once it expired at the end of May, even though, according to MDCR's statement, "Franz was a model tenant who was always timely with her rent payments."
Franz then filed an amended complaint of retaliation with the MDCR due to Cornock Rental's nonrenewal of her lease.
A Rule 12 hearing was held in May 2025 before Administrative Law Judge Robert J. Meade. Based on facts presented to the MDCR and Meade, the MDCR found that Cornock violated Section 506(a) of the Persons with Disabilities Civil Rights Act. They also found that Cornock Rental's nonrenewal of Franz's lease constituted illegal discrimination, violating Section 502(1)(b) of the Persons with Disabilities Civil Rights Act. Furthermore, they found that the nonrenewal of the lease constituted retaliation, violating Section 602(a) of the Persons with Disabilities Civil Rights Act.
The MDCR ordered Cornock and Cornock Rental Properties to amend policies surrounding disability accommodations, complete training on federal, state and local fair housing laws and pay Franz $25,000 in emotional distress damages and $5,700 for reimbursement of rent paid within 120 days, with interest starting from the date of the initial complaint. Cornock and Cornock Rental were also ordered to pay the FHCWM $1,500 for their representation and advocacy of Franz, with interest.
"This ruling makes it clear that housing providers cannot discriminate against tenants for requesting an accommodation or retaliate against them for asserting their rights," said Commissioner Roasann Barker, who was assigned to oversee the case. "Denying an individual an emotional support animal is the same as denying an individual the medication necessary to manage their physical and mental health. The damages and required remedial measures reflect the seriousness of these violations and that these protections must be respected and upheld."
Annie Lippert can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 550. Her email address is alippert@miningjournal.net.