Two lawsuits seek to improve conditions for Montgomery apartment residents

A Montgomery attorney is preparing to file a multi-plaintiff lawsuit against a company that owns four apartment complexes and has a reputation for violating tenants' leases, while the city is continuing litigation against the same company.

Sayge Grubbs plans to file the suit this week on behalf of about 150 clients, seeking monetary reparations for the company's alleged bad practices. City Councilman Oronde Mitchell said the city's suit is designed to hold the company accountable and improve conditions for the people who live there.

EEG, which owns Woodley Oaks, Woodley Terrace, Brentwood Estates and Sherwood in Montgomery, responded to the city's suit with a letter of appearance. The law requires EEG to address the complaint within 30 days, Mitchell said.

“My end goal is to make them fix what needs to be fixed," Mitchell said.

Mitchell said that the city is already short on housing, so he wants to keep these complexes as an option for Montgomery residents. Mitchell said he just wants them to take care of their residents.

“If I don’t do it, nobody will do it," Mitchell said.

Laroyce Jarrett lives in the Brentwood unit next to where Cameisha Whetstone used to live before the company evicted Whetstone a day after she spoke with a Montgomery Advertiser reporter. After Whetstone began moving her belongings to a new home, her apartment was broken into twice, and many of her items were stolen, Jarrett said.

Since Whetstone moved, Jarrett has been the only tenant on her floor, but Jarrett said management has not locked all the doors to the empty units. Jarrett said she sees people coming and going from the abandoned apartments, making her concerned for her safety.

“They’re not trying to fix anything," Jarrett said. "They’re not concerned about my safety."

Besides her concerns about security at Brentwood, Jarrett's air conditioning unit also went out. The temperature in her unit has climbed to 82 degrees, making breathing difficult for her son and 2-year-old granddaughter who both have asthma.

Marilyn Riley has similar worries about the complex. She said she's had to fall to the floor while walking into her apartment after gunfire erupted at the complex. Her dishwasher is also filled with black water, she said.

“We're not safe, and then we have mold," Riley said.

Grubbs plans to file a multi-plaintiff lawsuit against McGehee Park, but he said filing that suit will be later in the process.

“I really would like ... the people of Montgomery to pay attention to what’s going on and not take it lightly because these clients, this is their house," Grubbs said. “... These are your neighbors."

More: Previous Coverage Montgomery announces lawsuits against apartment owners after tenants share horror stories

Alex Gladden is the Montgomery Advertiser's public safety reporter. She can be reached at agladden@gannett.com or on Twitter @gladlyalex.

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Two lawsuits seek to improve Montgomery apartment conditions