Huntsville, AL — A lawsuit recently filed by residents of a downtown Huntsville apartment complex alleges that negligent maintenance led to significant flooding in August, resulting in health deterioration and financial burdens for those affected. Residents of Gateway Apartments, including Barbara Young, Sherry Webb, and Gene Riggs, are seeking class action status to represent all tenants impacted by the incident against the parties responsible for the building’s upkeep.
The defendants in the case are Huntsville Senior Housing LP, the development firm; Lee Company, the plumbing contractor; and Integral Group, LLC, the management company. Integral’s senior vice president for corporate communications, Richard White, stated the company does not comment on ongoing litigation. As of this report, Huntsville Senior Housing and Lee Company have not responded to inquiries for comment.
The lawsuit details that Barbara Young, formerly an independent resident who paid $939 per month at Gateway Apartments, now resides in an assisted living facility costing $4,300 monthly due to declining health attributed to the stress and instability following the flooding. This assisted living expense is more than four times her previous rent.
Gateway Apartments, which offers 86 units subsidized by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, caters to seniors aged 62 and above, many of whom have disabilities. The property is linked to the Huntsville Housing Authority.
An integral allegation in the legal complaint is that Lee Company failed to secure an aluminum worm gear hose clamp properly, which it claims caused a pipe to burst, leading to widespread water damage.
After the flood, displaced residents were relocated to extended-stay motels, which resulted in increased living costs and added challenges, according to the lawsuit’s claims. It was further stated that the apartment management required tenants to continue paying rent for their flood-damaged units under threat of losing their homes once repairs were done.
Eric Artrip, one of the attorneys representing the plaintiffs, highlighted the residents’ predicament, noting their inability to leave the lease without facing penalties. The lawsuit requests the leases to be reformed allowing tenants to leave without financial repercussions. Additionally, Artrip pointed out the loss of irreplaceable personal belongings, such as family pictures and heirlooms, noting that many residents did not have renters’ insurance.
Artrip condemned the lack of immediate offers to compensate the tenants for their monetary and emotional losses. He emphasized the inconvenience brought about by relocation from an area abundant with amenities like grocery stores, hospitals, and services to a place where accessibility became a significant issue for the elderly and disabled tenants.
Among the lawsuit’s demands are a full reimbursement for rent paid during their displacement, compensation for damaged property, emotional distress, hardship, and a critical examination of the funds allegedly improperly collected by the apartment’s management.
This case highlights the ongoing challenges faced by vulnerable populations in ensuring safe and affordable housing, and underscores the broader implications of property maintenance obligations.
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