Saturday, February 20, 1999
Tenants who lacked heat sue landlord
BY PERRY BROTHERS
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Former and current residents of apartments in Mount Airy, forced out by the city in January because of lack of heat, are suing the complex's owner.
Attorney Robert B. Newman, who filed the suit Friday in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court, said residents seek unspecified compensatory and punitive damages.
The suit alleges that Michael J. Davis and his company, Castlerock Properties, failed to comply with health and safety laws and the leases of five families at 5119 Hawaiian Terrace, one of several buildings in the complex.
All of the tenants named in the suit claim that the heat went out on Jan. 2 at about 3 a.m. Cincinnati building inspectors ordered the residents to vacate because of no heat.
A week after the order, residents returned to the apartments and were assigned portable heating units. The central heating has since been repaired.
Former resident Alice Smith, 33, and other residents at a press conference at the apartment complex Friday said the portable heaters were ineffective, inefficient and caused spikes in the tenants' electric bills.
Ms. Smith, who moved out of the complex on Jan. 15, said her electric bill jumped to $486 from her normal bill of $41. Mr. Davis was not available for comment Friday, and management officials declined to be interviewed at the complex.
Mr. Newman said the case should go to trial in about eight months unless a settlement is reached.
The residents listed as plaintiffs are: Ms. Smith, Tiffany Watson, Penny Eden, Bruce Eden, Sheena Anderson and Falisha M. Brown.
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