(LOS ANGELES) – City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto announced today that her Office has filed a civil action enforcing the City’s Tenant Anti-Harassment Ordinance (TAHO) and the State’s Unfair Competition Law (UCL) against the owner of an eight-unit apartment complex for allegedly violating state and local tenant protections. The suit alleges that, just five days after purchasing the complex, in an effort to obtain higher rents, the defendant demanded, without just cause, that all tenants vacate the complex. He also served several tenants with eviction notices without just cause. When the tenants refused to vacate their homes, the defendant began a campaign of illegal harassment designed to coerce them into surrendering their tenancies.
Feldstein Soto’s lawsuit seeks an injunction to stop the defendant’s alleged ongoing violations of the TAHO and UCL, as well as civil penalties, and punitive damages.
“California and the City of Los Angeles have enacted tenant protection laws to ensure tenants can live in their homes free from harassment and unlawful eviction practices,” said Los Angeles City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto. “This suit sends a clear message that my office will continue to enforce these laws and hold accountable landlords who violate tenants’ rights."
The Complaint alleges that Defendant has harassed the tenants by engaging in unlawful actions, such as interrupting the tenants’ water and waste disposal services, imposing new charges and fees, revoking tenants’ outdoor storage rights, and discarding tenants’ personal property. The Complaint also alleges the Defendant has also pursued evictions based at least in part on his unlawful unilateral changes to tenant leases.
Through this action, the City Attorney’s Office seeks to put a stop to these unlawful activities and to deter the defendant and other landlords from engaging in similar future unlawful business practices.
This civil enforcement action is being managed by the City Attorney’s Public Rights Branch.
LASC Case #26STCV21736:
The People of the State of California V. Femi G. Olanipekun
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Hydee Feldstein Soto is the 43rd Los Angeles City Attorney, elected in November 2022 and sworn into office in December 2022. Her team of nearly 1,000 legal professionals, including 500+ attorneys, carries out legal work for the City of Los Angeles at her direction and under her supervision. She is the first female City Attorney in L.A. history.