There’s an old saying, popularized by Robert Frost’s poem “Mending Wall” that includes the line, “Good fences make good neighbors.” However, in one upstate New York neighborhood, a good fence was one of the only things standing between a Black family and a neighbor who they claimed hurled racist and anti-LGBTQ+ hate at them for years.
Now, Robert R. Whittaker Jr. may have to pay up as a result. That’s because Syracuse.com is reporting that Whittaker has settled a lawsuit brought against him by Amanda David, a Black homeowner who filed a federal housing discrimination lawsuit against the man.
On July 28, 2026, the CNY Fair Housing group announced that the lawsuit had been settled and that Whittaker would be forced to pay David $100,000. But Whittaker denies the allegations against him and has not yet admitted any liability.
This sounds like it will hopefully be the end of a long and painful chapter for the David family.
Whittaker Has Been Arrested as a Result of the Allegations
The lawsuit was filed in 2024 after the David family said they endured three years of abuse from their neighbor. Some of the things they said they were subjected to include racist slurs, threats of physical violence, and vandalism. Whittaker was even once arrested for allegedly shooting a security light on David’s property, which eventually led to a conviction and a year behind bars.
“It really breaks my heart. You want to protect and shield your kids from that as much as possible,” David told Syracuse.com in a previous interview. As a result of the ongoing abuse, David was forced to relocate her home and her business, Rootwork Herbals, which she used to welcome Black, Indigenous and LBGTQ+ people to participate in events that featured community and healing.
The Fair Housing Act Was Designed to Protect People Against This Very Thing
The Fair Housing Act was established in 1968 to give people protection from discrimination that would make housing unavailable based on factors like race, sex, religion, national origin, disability, or family status. There are different ways that the act can protect people, including when applying for home loans, when builders or owners are building new properties, and when it comes to zoning, to name a few.
Those who feel like they are being discriminated against under one of those protected categories can file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to get help. These complaints can be filed online, by phone, or even through the mail.
People who are hard of hearing can file their complaint using Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS). HUD also notes that retaliation is illegal, so filing a complaint should be a safe and inclusive process as well.