(Washington, DC)– Joined by Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) Acting Director Linda K. Argo, District of Columbia Attorney General Linda Singer today announced her office has filed a 2,861-count criminal complaint against David Cormier, the owner of an apartment building located at 3228 Hiatt Place, NW, in Washington, DC, alleging his failure to correct housing code violations at that location. Eight additional charges related to construction activity on the premises without the necessary building permit also were filed.
Under District of Columbia law, criminal charges may be brought against a landlord who fails to abate housing code violations after notice from DCRA. In the case of 3228 Hiatt Place, NW, DCRA inspectors found violations of the housing code that included rotted floors, structurally unsound walls, ceilings and floors, and windows that failed to keep out wind and rain, as well as other deficiencies. A number of apartments contained heavy wooden windows with broken sashes, an extremely dangerous condition that threatens young children. Portions of the roof also were rotted.
The three-story building has 22 units. However, occupancy has dwindled to only a handful of the units.
The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) and DCRA have worked closely and aggressively over the past few months to inspect and re-inspect the units at the Hiatt Place apartments. Inspectors found one apartment bathroom that was completely gutted by the landlord but was never replaced. Tenants of that apartment reported that the landlord told them to use the bathroom of a vacant apartment down the hall.
Each of the 2,869 counts carries a maximum penalty of 90 days of incarceration.
“This case makes clear that we can and will hold landlords accountable for the properties they own and fail to maintain,” Attorney General Singer said. “Access to decent housing should not be a luxury and people should not be forced to live in substandard and dangerous buildings.”
“Safe housing is critical to the lives of District residents,” Acting Director Argo said. “Working with the Attorney General, DCRA will continue our efforts to ensure landlords are held responsible for substandard housing conditions.”
“I was appalled by what we found at 3228 Hiatt Place during my first visit a few years ago,” Councilmember Jim Graham said. “I have been working with various agencies ever since. Nobody should have to live in these types of conditions. I hope this building is taken out of the hands of this slumlord and put into the hands of the tenants.”
Today’s criminal complaint is not the first time Cormier has allegedly run afoul of the law; he has been cited by DCRA in the past for serious housing code violations.
Complaints regarding the property at 3228 Hiatt Place, NW first came to light as a result of the work of Councilmember Graham, community organizations and the District’s Ward One Core Team in the Mayor’s Office of Community Relations and Services. Upon receiving complaints about the housing conditions at 3228 Hiatt Place, NW, Ward One Core Team leaders organized and began an interagency investigation that ultimately led to the criminal charges being filed today against Cormier.
The public is reminded that the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
Select the link below to view the complaint: