Item 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.

In September 2010, the United States Department of Justice, or the DOJ, filed suit against Post Properties (and by virtue of the Merger, MAA) in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia alleging that certain of our apartments violated accessibility requirements of the FHA and the ADA. The DOJ is seeking, among other things, an injunction against us, requiring us to retrofit the properties and comply with FHA and ADA standards in future design and construction, as well as monetary damages and civil penalties. No trial date has been set.

In December 2017, The Equal Rights Center, a non-profit civil rights organization, filed suit against MAA and the Operating Partnership in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. This suit alleges that we maintained and enforced a criminal records screening policy at certain of our apartment communities, all of which are communities that we acquired from Post Properties in the Merger, which violates the FHA. The suit seeks injunctive relief, actual and punitive damages and attorneys' fees and costs.

In addition, we are involved in various other legal proceedings arising in the course of our business operations. While no assurances can be given, we do not currently believe that any of these other outstanding matters will have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.