NEWPORT NEWS — The Virginia Attorney General’s Office is suing a Newport News landlord — accusing him of an “alarming” and “egregious” pattern of discriminating against his Black and female tenants.
The lawsuit, filed Thursday in Newport News Circuit Court, asks that David Lee Merryman be ordered to pay $8 million to compensate tenants for the “willful, wanton and blatant pattern and practice of discriminatory behavior.”
The lawsuit’s complaint contends that Merryman often promises his tenants that he will fix up the properties once they move in.
But after they sign the lease, the complaint maintains, Merryman often refuses to make the promised repairs, leaving the tenants — typically Black women with children and on government assistance — living in substandard conditions.
“Tenant requests for repairs are often met with threats of violence, insults and other forms of retaliation,” the complaint asserts, adding that city officials and police reports “corroborate Merryman’s abusive conduct toward his Black and female tenants.”
The crime would be the same no matter who signed the lease and got screwed out of promised services. There are landlords everywhere who do the same thing – they’re predators.
The Newport News Housing Authority is supposed to be in top of all Section 8 housing regulation compliance.
Awesome, Since our taxes are paying their rent, i cant wait to get my share! gonna be a good Christmas with all that extra cash to blow!
Well, maybe the slumlords in Salisbury should start sweating….
Or maybe not.
They seem to be protected by the invisible, but powerful, good ol’ boys network.
Renting trash ghetto dumps (roaches optional at no extra charge) that were paid in full 40 years ago but still get rented for $1200-$1500 and repairs are also optional.
Already rich people gouging immigrants, poor black people, single mothers, and of course, the government (as they shuffle ownership back and forth between them to scam the tax system).
With the States Attorney at their back, ready to pounce on anyone who might besmirch their reputation or hurt their feelings. A hired gun at the beck and call of the rich slumlords.
That’s what ya might call “white privilege”. When those in power (white people) use OTHER people in power (white people) to subjugate those people who CAN’T call up the States Attorney, get a personal appointment, and then get their complaint handled by an army of armed men who can, if needed, KILL you.
Slumlord.
It ain’t an easy job, but a good one if you can get it. And keep it.