Landlord removes ramp, trapping disabled tenants in their apartments

[proud2BlibKansan]

JEFFERSON CITY | The Missouri Human Rights Commission has obtained a record $300,000 judgment against a landlord accused of removing a wheelchair ramp and trapping two residents in their apartment.

The state commission filed the lawsuit on behalf of Linda Travers and Thomas Orzech Jr., who contend a new landlord removed a wheelchair ramp from their Florissant apartment building, making it impossible for them to get out. They missed doctor's appointments while they were homebound for about three weeks, and relatives had to bring them groceries.

Travers and Orzech each received $50,000 in actual damages and $100,000 in punitive damages in a summary judgment against Hartford, Conn.-based Ryansk LLC and employee Barrett St. Onge, of Florissant.

The labor department said Friday that the combined $300,000 in damages is the highest award the Human Rights Commission has ever won in a housing case. Commission Executive Director Alisa Warren described the landlord's behavior as "illegal and unconscionable."

more . . . http://www.kansascity.com/news/breaking_news/story/1262993.html

[hobbit709]

1. Fitting punishment would be to lock him in a wheelchair

and place him in a third floor walkup with no handicap accessible features for the same length of time.

[Solly Mack]

2. K&R

[proud2BlibKansan]

3. Why?

You approve of trapping disabled people in their home? LOL

[Solly Mack]

5. Yes. That's why I K&R a thread where the Missouri Human Rights Commission

got a record judgment against an asshole.

[LeftishBrit]

12. I think he approves of suing people for doing so!

Glad that bastard had to pay up. Might be a deterrent to other people like him.

[Ezlivin]

4. My landlady once renovated my apartment in my absence

My wife and I attempted a holiday in Mexico, got to Acapulco and discovered that our travel agent had lied: Our room was not wheelchair-accessible.

We returned home only to find that "my" bathroom was completely gutted. The landlady thought we'd be gone for two weeks and was surprised to see us back two days later.

Boy, what fun that was! But thankfully I had a ramp to get in and out.

[proud2BlibKansan]

6. Hopefully you got your money back from the travel agent

What a nightmare that must have been.

[Ezlivin]

7. We sued her

The lawyer got half the money, we got the other half.

It was a real adventure nightmare.

[driver8]

9. deleted

Sorry -- I read the post above yours and got my answer...

[undeterred]

8. I once came home and the back stairs to the apartment were gone

Whole staircase torn down, no notice given. Fortunately the roof settled on top of the door making it impossible to open. People on the 1st and second floors could open their back doors - to nothing. We got home first and were able to warn them. But any of us could have been badly hurt. Landlords do stupid things.

[Froward69]

10. I would like to know more

I walked up a ramp and it collapsed under me. so I tore it out and applied for the permit to build a new one. meenwhile the tenant in the chair complained and I made it a point to be there to help the tenant up and down each time they needed in or out. The project took just three days to complete. and the permit took three weeks to come. add another two weeks for the inspector to show up.

In the mean time that new ramp was not supposed to be used.

:shrug:

on edit/
The article reads like the new landlord and the tenants became embroiled in what ramp was suitable... (ugly not to code, etc)
However any landlord should know that under the Disabilities Act any Building must be wheelchair accessible.

[tblue37]

11. proud2BLibKansan

Have you seen this yet?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=5887630&mesg_id=5887630