AG Wins $750,000 Verdict in Racial Discrimination Case
by James A. Bacon
In a case prosecuted by the Attorney General’s Office of Civil Rights, a Franklin County jury rendered a $750,000 verdict against a landlord for evicting two families from her rental property on Smith Mountain Lake after learning that one of the family members was black.
“Housing discrimination—and discrimination of any kind—will not be tolerated in Virginia,” said Attorney General Jason Miyares. “We are pleased by the jury’s verdict, and I’m immensely proud of my Civil Rights Unit. The people of Franklin County have spoken: Smith Mountain Lake is for everyone.”
According to a summary issued by the AG’s office, Regina Turner, owner of Lazy Cove Campground on Smith Mountain Lake, had rented lots to families for decades. A couple with a camper on one of Turner’s lots encouraged friends—an interracial married couple with a young son—to lease a neighboring spot. The wife, who is white, negotiated a lease with Turner. However, upon learning that the husband was black, Turner took steps to evict both families, openly stating that she would not have rented to them had she known his race.
After deliberating less than two hours, the jury awarded $100,000 to each couple for their losses, as well as the humiliation and emotional toll they endured. The jury awarded an additional $550,000 in punitive damages to punish Turner’s actions and serve as a deterrent against future discrimination.
It is disheartening to see that blatant racism like this persists in our society. But it is increasingly rare and overwhelmingly condemned. Franklin County is deep red country, voting 72% for Donald Trump in the 2024 election, but the jury took less than two hours to order massive punitive damages.
It is all the more important for Virginia’s Republican Attorney General to crack down on real instances of racial discrimination as the commonwealth’s Republican Governor roots out racial preferences in higher education. It is vital to send the signal that shutting down Diversity, Equity & Inclusion is not part of some white-supremacist backlash, as it has been widely portrayed, but driven by a genuine commitment to a society free from all forms of racial discrimination and preferences.
