LOS ANGELES, CA — City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto announced, today, that her Office has filed a civil enforcement action against the owner of a strip mall located in South Los Angeles on the Figueroa corridor. The lawsuit alleges that the owner – for at least the last 10 years – has allowed the strip mall to serve as a hub for violent gang and criminal activity anchored by the Eight Trey Hoovers (“Hoovers”) gang. The property, located at 8501-8509 South Figueroa Street, is across the street from a middle school (KIPP Academy of Opportunity) and is a Hoovers stronghold.
Feldstein Soto’s suit, filed against property owner Eric Ghayam (aka Omid Ghayam), seeks to have the property declared a public nuisance and to permanently abate gang-related activity and the ongoing danger to the community.
Less than two months ago, in the middle of a school day, a group of individuals – many identified by LAPD as Hoovers gang members or associates – were in front of a business on the property when multiple gunshots were fired into the group. Five people were shot and, on another occasion, bullets struck KIPP middle school.
“For far too long, this strip mall has been a magnet for crime and violent gang activity, with shootings, intimidation and other dangerous conduct,” said Hydee Feldstein Soto, Los Angeles City Attorney. “Despite repeated requests from our office and the LAPD to mitigate gang-related activities at this property, the defendants failed to take sufficient action. This lawsuit sends a clear message that we will continue using all available tools to protect our neighborhoods and restore safety to our communities.”
In the last 16 months, there have been numerous shootings and associated crimes at this property. The City Attorney’s Office and LAPD have repeatedly asked the Defendant to implement and maintain physical and managerial improvements to mitigate the congregation of gang members and others. To date, he has only implemented some changes while failing to maintain others. As a result, the dangerous crime continues and efforts by LAPD to curb the violence there have been compromised.
This lawsuit, brought pursuant to California’s Public Nuisance Law and California’s Unfair Competition Law, is being managed by the City Attorney’s Public Rights Branch.
LA Superior Court Case No. 25STCV29662
The People of the State of California vs. Eric Ghayam aka Omid Ghayam
Complaint for Abatement, Injunction, and Civil Penalties [Civil Code § 3479, et seq.; Bus. & Prof. Code § 17200, et seq.]
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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.