Leadership Conference on Civil Rights

The City of Markham must pay $400,000 to settle a disability and housing discrimination suit that alleged the mayor and others tried to block the opening of a group home for six developmentally disabled men, officials said Monday.

Markham must pay St. Coletta's of Illinois Inc. the full amount by next Monday and acknowledge that the group home is operating according to city regulations, under the agreed order entered last week by U.S. District Judge Milton Shadur.

"We think this is a great victory for St. Coletta's residents and developmentally disabled residents who are still forced to struggle to enjoy the benefits of the fair-housing law," said Nicholas Anaclerio, an attorney for St. Coletta's.