Cigarette Burns, Missing Belongings & Parties Are Focus of Lawsuit by Seniors Who Say Atlanta Mismanaged Free Home Repair Program; Reformed Program Now to Begin
Legal Services E-lert
Bibliographic Info:
Following a lawsuit, Atlanta is modifying its home repair program for low-income seniors and plans to hire an agency to start the program back up by the end of the year. In April of 2006, six low-income elderly homeowners filed a lawsuit against the City claiming, among other things, that on returning to their homes they had found cigarette burns on furniture, belongings missing, and in one case, a newly-built wheelchair ramp too steep to be used. Additionally, they alleged that neighbors had seen large parties occurring in one plaintiffs home. The federal Housing and Urban Development Department and the Citys law office both found significant deficiencies in the program. The lawsuit was settled quickly and the City paid the plaintiffs, represented by LSC-funded Atlanta Legal Aid Society, Inc., $90,000.