January 22, 2006 Morrison Hotel owners on probation
An article in the Thursday L.A. Times states that the owners of the Morrison Hotel were placed on five years probation for not addressing vermin infestation, etc. in the slumlord lawsuit brought on behalf of the tenants that finished late last year with the owners convicted on 21 counts of criminal negligence by the L.A. City Attorney's office. There is still a civil case pending against the owners, which is completely separate from the criminal charges. The civil case is still on schedule for trial in September 2006, with a mandatory settlement conference to be completed by April 2006. (thanks, Michael) slumlord lawsuit
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January 2, 2006 Morrison Hotel lawsuits
The owners of the Morrison Hotel have been tried and convicted on 21 counts of criminal negligence by the L.A. City Attorney's office, according to a statement on the official Doors website home page. That is great news and takes care of the criminal side. However, there is still a civil case pending against the owners, which is completely separate from the criminal charges. The civil case is still on schedule for trial in September 2006. There is a mandatory settlement conference to be completed by April 2006. I will get another update from the attorney at that time regarding the status of the mediation. I'm sure the criminal conviction will be a big boost to the civil suit.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/041221/215185_1.html
Holidays
Not Happy for Residents of Famed Morrison Hotel Who File ''Slumlord''
Lawsuit against Ownership
LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 21, 2004--
Christmas will not be "merry" this year for residents of the famed 90-year-old Morrison Hotel in downtown Los Angeles. While most Americans are celebrating the holidays, according to inhabitants of this residential complex, they will be dodging rodents, coping with no heat, protecting themselves against mold, dealing with leaky windows and plumbing, and fighting management to have visitors allowed in the building. As a result of these and many other grievances which residents claim have made the building uninhabitable and a health risk, 40 residents of the Morrison Hotel filed a "slumlord" lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court today against the owner, Hope Pico Company, LLC. The lawsuit was announced at a news conference in Beverly Hills, Calif., held in the law offices of their legal counsel, Eric E. Castelblanco. At the news conference, Castelblanco announced that the lawsuit charges the ownership and management with 10 causes of action, including Breach of Warrant of Habitability, Tortuous Breach of Warranty of Habitability, Negligence, and Infliction of Emotional Distress. Lead Plaintiff in the lawsuit is Augustina Ramirez, a resident, and also named as a defendant is Sauli Danpour, an individual reported to own, manage and control operation of the residential hotel. As evidence that this is no "frivolous" lawsuit based on unwarranted allegations, Castelblanco reported that the City of Los Angeles on May 27, 2004 issued a sub-standard order to the Morrison Hotel ownership citing it for over 100 violations of the city building code resulting from an inspection by the city's Department of Building and Safety. Further, he added, the city has put the complex in its Rent Escrow Accounts Program (REAP) which enables them to pay rent into a city account. Commenting on the lawsuit against the famed Hotel, which was pictured on the cover of a best-selling 1971 album recorded by Jim Morrison and the Doors, Castelblanco stressed that the residents had no alternative in filing the lawsuit because of the intransigence of the ownership in making any repairs or improving living conditions: "The living conditions are deplorable, both in physical and emotional terms. Health hazards abound, what with mice, cockroaches and mosquitoes infesting it, no heating and air conditioning, bathrooms that don't work, leaks causing mold, and exposed electrical wiring. Intimidation and harassment is rampant from management and security personnel and a virtual `lock-down' of the premises keeps residents from having family and friends visit." According to Castelblanco, the lawsuit seeks general, special,
exemplary, punitive and statutory damages, as well as legal and court
costs. Equally important, he emphasized, it seeks declarations for
residents to have the right to have tenant meetings and assistance on the
property. The tenants are currently receiving counsel and assistance from
a nonprofit organization, Strategic Actions for a Just Economy. Attending
the news conference was a large group of residents who are plaintiffs in
the lawsuit. Some of the residents outlined their personal grievances as
well as the problems that all the residents share in common. Assisting
Castelblanco in handling the lawsuit is Reilly Atkinson of the Santa
Monica law firm of Yuhl Rhames & Atkinson, LLP. Contact: Fisher & Associates Source: Law Offices of Eric E. Castelblanco read: area development story dated July 2, 2002 read: Morrison Hotel "for sale" story dated January 26, 2004 read: The Doors fundraising in support of tenants' lawsuit story dated December 30, 2004 This can be followed by going to http://www.lasuperiorcourt.org/civilCaseSummary/index.asp?CaseType=Civil and inserting Case # BC326227 for Ramirez v. Hope Pico Company.
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