On June 9, 2015, six tenants brought a class action lawsuit against landlord-developer Guardian Arms located at 5217 Hollywood Blvd. in Los Angeles, CA. A copy of the lawsuit is available here.
In January of 2014, the Los Angeles Housing and Community Investment Department (HCID) responded to tenant complaints of illegal construction at Guardian Arms. HCID documented the illegal construction and ordered the Guardian Arms to offer and pay all of its tenants relocation assistance because, in HCID's words, the work impacted "tenant habitability." A copy of the letter is available here. The relocation assistance ranges from $7,600 to $19,000.00, a number established by the Los Angeles rent control law.
The lawsuit alleges that after tenants put forward their requests, Guardian Arms denied each and every request. Despite the order from HCID, construction continued. As a result of the construction, the lawsuit alleges, the tenants were subjected to asbestos exposure, chemical fumes, a complete shutdown of the building heat through winters in 2014 and 2015, frequent water shutoffs, and other construction activities that affected tenant health and safety.
Details of the tenants allegations will be posted on this site. The lawsuit is pending in Los Angeles Superior Court. Masalcas, et al., v. Guardian Arms Pacific, LP, L.A.S.C. No. BC571867.
The tenants are represented by JR Howell & Associates through their Los Angeles attorney, J.R. Howell, who can be reached at jrhowell@jrhlegalstrategies.com and (818) 358-4436.
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