News Releases

Attorney General Jones Awards More Than $800,000 for Families Following Historic Victory in Fair Housing Case 

RICHMOND, Va. -- Attorney General Jones announced today that after securing a historic victory in a fair housing case involving racial discrimination, his office has successfully collected and returned more than $800,000 to the Virginians impacted by the discriminatory practices. On Wednesday, September 2, 2026, Attorney General Jay Jones presented the Mills and Smith families their payouts of more than $400,000, which is the largest payout to individual complainants in the history of the Virginia Fair Housing Office and Office of the Attorney General. 

The case concluded in February 2025 when a jury found that the defendant and owner of Lazy Cove Campground, Regina Turner, discriminated against two families by evicting them upon learning that one of the campers was Black. After failing to comply with multiple court orders and refusing to pay the damages, the Office of the Attorney General initiated special auction proceedings for Ms. Turner’s properties in order to obtain the funding for the court-ordered damages. On August 12, 2026, Regina Turner was also ordered to serve 30 days in jail at a contempt hearing where she was escorted out of the courthouse in handcuffs for failing to comply with the orders. 

“Every Virginian deserves access to safe and affordable housing, and they deserve to be treated fairly and with dignity. This case and the egregious discriminatory actions endured by the Mills and Smith families are heart wrenching and unacceptable,” said Attorney General Jones. “I am proud to bring much overdue and deserved relief, and I want to thank the public servants in both the Virginia Fair Housing Office and the Office of the Attorney General whose dedication and tenacity brought this precedent-setting conclusion into reality after six arduous years.” 

“These successful outcomes underscore the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation’s commitment to enforcing fair housing protections and holding accountable those who engage in housing discrimination in Virginia,” said Liz Hayes, Director of the Virginia Fair Housing Office. “Most importantly, these cases demonstrate that individuals who experience discrimination can seek justice and meaningful remedies. The substantial awards secured for these families make clear that housing discrimination has serious consequences and that every Virginian deserves a fair and equal opportunity to access housing.” 

The 18-acres of waterfront on a peninsula in Smith Mountain Lake, which was foreclosed on to collect on the jury’s verdict, was sold for $1,045,000.00. Each family received $417,287.67, which is the full amount, with interest, that a jury awarded them at the end of the trial. 

Published on: September 3, 2026

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