The City of Beaumont has come under fire recently regarding accusations of discrimination and now, the dispute is likely to be settled through mediation. According to documents obtained by a local television news organization, the city and the federal government agreed to continue their work toward an agreement concerning the discrimination lawsuit. The city is accused of discriminating against people with disabilities.

According to the lawsuit, the United States is seeking monetary damages and civil penalties against Beaumont. The lawsuit details the city’s discrimination and accuses Beaumont of “preventing or prohibiting the operation of small community homes of up to four residents per person with intellectual or developmental disabilities.”

The city’s ordinances require community hopes cannot be closer than a half mile to one another. The suit claims Beaumont has overly restrictive fire code requirements that are not imposed throughout the state in similar situations for community homes.

The federal government’s lawsuit against Beaumont names specific residents of the city with disabilities and showed the government ordered these individuals to leave their homes because of the rules. The suit also alleged some residents had to move to institutional settings instead of other community homes, or they had to leave the City of Beaumont all together.

To date, the attorney for Beaumont has not publicly commented on the lawsuit. The City claims there are ways people with disabilities can seek accommodations without the problems listed in the suit. According to documents obtained by the news outlet, both sides will attempt mediation and settle the suit in court if necessary.