Latest news with #SnohomishCountySuperiorCourt
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
AG Brown sues 5 WA apartments for ‘deceiving' senior tenants
The Brief Five Western Washington apartments and its management company are being sued by Attorney General Nick Brown. The lawsuit claims that the complexes have deceived its primarily low-income senior tenants. The complexes have allegedly deceived future and current tenants of rent increases, property quality, amenity quality and building safety. SEATTLE - Attorney General Nick Brown sues five apartment complexes in Western Washington he alleges "deceived" low-income senior tenants. Brown filed a complaint Friday in Snohomish County Superior Court against the apartment complexes and property management firm, FPI Management, for deceptive practices against senior tenants. What we know The following Western Washington apartment complexes are part of the lawsuit: Vintage at Everett Vintage at Mill Creek Vintage at Sequim Vintage at Tacoma Cedar Pointe Apartments FPI has been allegedly violating the Consumer Protection Act over the last several years, after the management company and the property owners failed to disclose rent increases, apartment unit quality, property safety and the quality of apartment amenities like pools and gyms. FPI markets its apartments to tenants 55 years and older who are also low-income. Brown claims that the company does not inform future tenants that their rent will be decided on Area Median Income, resulting in seniors paying more than the Social Security or pension incomes they live on. What they're saying "Housing is particularly important for older Washingtonians, and it's hard for them to move once they've signed a lease," said Brown in a statement. "It's egregious to convince vulnerable populations they're getting quality living when in reality they are stuck with properties in disrepair that also end up costing more than they expected over time." Additionally, FPI has allegedly deceived tenants of the quality of their apartment units, building quality and amenity qualities. FPI markets the quality of its buildings as "luxury" and "resort style" but photos of the buildings show broken appliances, mold, leaks and other building damage. Some amenities the apartments promised to tenants were either nonexistent, shut down or broken. The apartment complexes also raised concerns around safety, as many did not have anyone monitoring people or vehicles entering and exiting the property, which has led to trespassing, theft and vandalism. What's next Brown's complaint calls for an injunction that prevents FPI and property owners from continuing the alleged unlawful activity. It also seeks a civil penalty of $12,500 for each Consumer Protection Act violation, restitution to impacted tenants and coverage of legal costs. The Source Information in this article is from a Washington State Attorney General's Office press release. Seattle traffic to be impacted from upcoming protests Authorities shift tactics in search for WA triple murder suspect Travis Decker Manhunt for Travis Decker moves to WA's Kittitas County Anti-Trump 'NO KINGS' protests planned for Seattle this weekend Seattle police disperse 'ICE OUT' protesters after fire breaks out downtown Everything you need to know about Seattle Pride Parade 2025 Things to do for Father's Day in Seattle To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter. Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national news.
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Yahoo
Everett man arrested for hate crime, accused of planting pipe bomb
The Brief An Everett man faces a hate crime offense for allegedly planting a pipe bomb in a woman's SUV on New Year's Eve. Police say Steven Goldstine was seen in surveillance footage lighting an explosive and then throwing it inside a vehicle before running away. EVERETT, Wash. - An Everett man faces a hate crime offense for allegedly planting a pipe bomb in a woman's SUV on New Year's Eve. After the explosion, responding officers say they found a detonated pipe bomb inside a Ford Explorer in an apartment complex near Pacific Avenue and Rucker Avenue in Everett. Police say Steven Goldstine is seen in surveillance footage lighting an explosive and then throwing it inside the vehicle before running away. Goldstine was arrested on St. Patrick's Day, nearly half a mile away from the crime scene. Charging documents say Goldstine has multiple prior convictions and was arrested for pointing a gun at Black Lives Matter protesters in 2020. The owner of the vehicle spoke with FOX 13 but did not want to share her name. She and her husband are Black, and she says Goldstine has called them racial slurs and even left a racist voicemail on her phone a day after the bombing. "I was so worried that he was going to come and throw a bomb through the window," she said. "So every time I hear a little creaking that's not normal around from this zone, I jump up to be looking through the door." The documents say Goldstine didn't even live at the complex, but was friends with one of the residents. The victim says he has since died, but wants him to pay for her car and emotional damage. Goldstine faced a judge last week, but no future court dates have been scheduled so far. A charging deadline was set for April 4. The Source Information in this story is from court documents from Snohomish County Superior Court and FOX 13 Seattle reporting. Gov. Ferguson cancels parole for man convicted in brutal 1980 triple murder Thurston County, WA officials investigate 2 fentanyl overdoses in jail UW lab technician detained at ICE detention center in Tacoma Search underway for suspect after man shot, killed in Parkland New Bigg's orca calf spotted in WA waters To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter. Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national coverage, plus 24/7 streaming coverage from across the nation.
