As SRC's Jo Miller indicated in an earlier post, the US Attorney's office is announcing enforcement actions today against North Minneapolis landlord Robert Zeman and the Minnesota-based property management firm Dominium Management Services, for their alleged failure to comply with the federal lead hazard disclosure law. The settlements against Zeman-who owns 19 properties in North Minneapolis-and Dominium will lead to lead abatement in more than 3,800 units in four states, at an estimated cost to the defendants of $1.25 million, plus penalties. Dominium will pay a civil penalty of $10,000 and contribute $70,000 to Minneapolis-based Sustainable Resources Center as part of the Consent Decree.
We have posted details of the settlements, including the press release, copies of the Consent Decrees, the federal complaints, a list of affected properties, and a map of Zeman's North Minneapolis properties at: www.nomorelead.org/enforcement.htm It is believed that this is the first announcement of possible others around the issue of property owners' and managers' compliance with the federal lead hazard disclosure law. Not much else is known beyond this announcement, given the confidential nature of the investigations conducted by HUD, EPA, and the US Attorney's office. This development, however, is a significant reflection of stepped up enforcement of the law, which requires real estate agents, property owners, and landlords to disclose known lead-based paint hazards to prospective buyers or lessees, as well as provide additional information. More info on the law is at our website, including forms for landlords to use for compliance. Stay tuned for more details later today as we publish our oft-delayed 504 Weekly around this issue. Gregory D. Luce St. Paul REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
