Robert F. LAUFMAN et al., Plaintiffs, v. OAKLEY BUILDING AND LOAN COMPANY et al., Defendants, 72 F.R.D. 116

Summary

Plaintiffs instituted a civil rights action pursuant to Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, 42 U.S.C.S. § 3601 et seq., Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C.S. § 2000d, and regulations issued by the Federal Home Loan Bank Board, 12 C.F.R. §§ 528, 531. Plaintiffs, who contended defendants had refused to lend them money because of the practice of "redlining," filed a motion to compel defendants to produce documents and answer interrogatories relating to residential loan data. Plaintiffs' alleged that defendants refused to lend money or required stricter terms for home loans for the purchase of houses in racially integrated neighborhoods. The court held that plaintiffs' discovery requests were clearly relevant to the subject matter of the action and did not exceed the scope of Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(b). Accordingly, the court overruled defendants' objections thereto, but gave additional time within which the appropriate protective orders could be filed.