A Black couple resolved a lawsuit with an appraiser who devalued their California home by over half a million dollars.

A Black couple resolved a lawsuit with an appraiser who devalued their California home by over half a million dollars.

A Black couple resolved a lawsuit with an appraiser who devalued their California home by over half a million dollars.

Janette Miller, co-owner of Miller and Perotti Real Estate Appraisers, evaluated Paul Austin and Tenisha Tate-four-bedroom Austin’s Sausalito home outside San Francisco at $998,000. That was $455,000 less than a 2019 mortgage refinance evaluation.

The Austins persuaded a White acquaintance to masquerade as the owner of their home, believing it was worth more. The home was revalued at $1.48 million.

The Austins sued Miller and her employer for “race discrimination” in her appraisal.
Miller paid the couple an unknown amount to resolve the matter. The appraiser had to see “Our America: Lowballed,” a documentary about their “white-washed” journey.

“I think everybody associated with the case was ready to move on,” Fair Housing executive director Caroline Peattie told San Jose Mercury News.

“Clearly we felt we had a solid case or else we wouldn’t have pursued it,” she added. “But filing a case based on evidence is different from how a judge will rule. .”