Indiana sues La Porte mobile home operator over ‘deplorable conditions' including discolored water
The Indiana Attorney General's office sued a Brooklyn, New York-based operator Thursday for 'deplorable conditions' at a La Porte mobile home community, according to a release.
Residents at Deerfield Estates, 7701 US-35, filed complaints last year saying they had brown and yellow water, and were subject to prolonged shutoffs, a 29-day boil order, low pressure and flooding from water leaks.
The lawsuit also alleges the landlord used a ratio utility billing system – which didn't calculate by usage – and billed residents for leaks they should have fixed.
No one was on site for several months and the company encouraged them to message an online community Facebook page with maintenance issues.
A message left for Nelson Communities, the operator, was not immediately returned.
'Hoosiers deserve safe and livable housing, plain and simple,' Attorney General Todd Rokita said in a release. 'The deplorable conditions at Deerfield Estates: dirty water, low pressure, extended shutoffs, and a lack of proper oversight are unacceptable.'
Rokita's office is seeking financial restitution, civil penalties and lawyer's costs.
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