A Franklin County jury awarded two families $750,000 in a racial discrimination case, marking what officials describe as the largest fair housing verdict in Virginia’s history an official account. The verdict came after a civil lawsuit against Regina Turner, the owner of Lazy Cove Campground at Smith Mountain Lake, who had been accused of refusing to renew leases once she became aware that one of the tenants was Black. That legal action was brought under Virginia’s fair housing laws, according to the Attorney General’s Office, which charged Turner with one count of refusal to rent and two counts of discrimination.
According to a local report, the case involved Angela Smith, who is white, her husband Damien Smith, who is Black, and their friend Amanda Mills. The Smiths had stayed at Lazy Cove with their 8-year-old child before the dispute arose.
The same coverage indicated that Angela and Damien Smith, along with Amanda Mills and her family, initially moved onto the campground in April and June 2020, respectively. Turner reportedly learned of Damien Smith’s race while speaking with Mills on the phone. She allegedly remarked, “You didn’t tell me that your friend’s husband is Black,” and, “Had I known, I wouldn’t have rented the lot to them. I saw the son, but I figured everyone makes a mistake.”
Following that conversation, Turner’s stance toward the group is described as becoming more confrontational. One instance recounts Turner saying, “You betrayed me. Had I known that her husband was Black, I would have never rented to them.” Both families departed the campground in August 2020 at the end of their leases, as they were unable to renew.
A civil lawsuit was subsequently filed by the Attorney General’s Civil Rights Unit. Court documents cited allegations that Turner intentionally chose not to renew the leases after discovering Damien Smith’s race. The trial proceeded in Franklin County, culminating in a decision by jurors in under two hours a news report shows.
The jury awarded $100,000 per family in compensatory damages and $550,000 in punitive damages, for a total of $750,000. Damien Smith later stated, “It was like a sigh of relief, but at the same time, I’m still angry because we never should have had to go through this. It was 2020 at the time, and somehow we’re still getting judged by the color of our skin versus the kind of person we are.” Angela Smith added, “We were there for about a month, and Amanda got a phone call from the owner.”
In statements documented by the Attorney General’s Office, Jason Miyares said, “Housing discrimination—and discrimination of any kind—will not be tolerated in Virginia. We are pleased by the jury’s verdict, and I’m immensely proud of my Civil Rights Unit.” He also added, “The people of Franklin County have spoken: Smith Mountain Lake is for everyone.” Meanwhile, Turner’s defense attorney responded in published remarks, “We respect the jury verdict in this case but it is common practice after a civil jury verdict to ask the court to set aside the verdict and we will have that motion heard in April.”
This verdict highlights the legal risks campground owners face if personal biases infringe on fair housing protections. Proactively establishing formal non-discrimination and staff training protocols can help avoid such violations and safeguard business reputations. Maintaining a clear, written policy that all team members understand and follow is often recommended within the outdoor hospitality sector.
Regular training that focuses on respectful customer interactions and identifying implicit biases can further reduce the risk of claims. Developing fair and transparent screening guidelines and keeping thorough documentation of all visitor interactions may also serve as supportive evidence if issues escalate.
Creating a clear communication framework for guest concerns and complaints is another key step. Offering multiple feedback channels and adopting transparent lease renewal processes helps clarify reasons behind approvals or denials before they lead to misunderstandings or disputes. Assigning designated representatives to handle questions can prevent confusion and ensure guests feel heard.
In the Lazy Cove scenario, confusion about lease renewal decisions contributed to the perception of singled-out treatment. Transparent communication and consistent policies uphold both legal requirements and ethical standards in outdoor hospitality. Officials have underscored the importance of fair housing compliance, while the Smith family has communicated relief mixed with frustration that they ever encountered discrimination.
This record-breaking judgment stands as a reminder that Virginia courts take housing discrimination seriously. In the same news report, defense counsel confirmed plans to request that the court set aside or reduce the verdict at a hearing scheduled for April. Until then, the dispute underscores the need for clarity and fairness in all aspects of rental decisions.
