Huntsville Residents Sue New Apartments Over Safety Concerns
Residents of downtown Huntsville apartments file class action lawsuit
Residents of new apartments in downtown Huntsville, just across from Big Spring Park, experienced random fire alarms, flooding, and water shut-offs, a class action lawsuit against the property owner and manager alleges.
Alarming Safety Concerns
John Owens, the named plaintiff, leased an apartment at Eclipse Residences in August, according to the lawsuit filed this week, and has experienced false fire alarms four times since then, once in November, twice in January, and once this month. The lawsuit describes how the fire alarm at the Apartments continually triggers without clear cause, often during late-night hours, forcing residents to evacuate under distress.
According to the lawsuit, these false alarms persist for over thirty minutes, involving both sirens and strobe lights, causing significant disruption to the residents’ peace and safety.
Water Woes and Flooding
In addition to the false fire alarms, the residents also experienced five water shut-offs since September, two of which were for 12 hours, the lawsuit said. The January winter weather led to flooding on the first floor, which the lawsuit alleged was due to a faulty water supply system.
The severe flooding on the first floor during the winter weather in early January of 2024 was particularly concerning, as it was attributed to frozen and burst pipes in a vacant unit that were not left dripping, leading to extensive property damage and inconveniences for the residents.
Lawsuit and Residents’ Demands
The lawsuit was filed in Madison County Circuit Court and alleges that the property managers failed to rectify various issues with the property after being notified. The residents are seeking compensation for cleaning, repair of property damage due to maintenance issues, and compensation for emotional distress caused by the continual disruptions to quiet enjoyment and safety concerns associated with their personal residence.
One of the key demands of the plaintiffs is to have the terms of their lease modified. Currently, residents must pay seven months’ rent to break the lease without consequences, which the attorney, Eric Artrip, considers exorbitant. The residents are asking the court to reform the leases to allow them to terminate the lease without economic penalties.
Property Owner’s Response
David Margulies, a spokesperson for the property owner, City Center Residential, and property management company, Willow Bridge, declined to comment on the ongoing litigation. Neither party offered any comments on the pending lawsuit.
Safety Concerns and Emotional Distress
The condition where the fire alarm goes off without a clear reason is dangerous, said Artrip, as residents could begin to ignore the warnings. The emotional distress and safety concerns caused by the repeated false alarms, water shut-offs, and flooding have significantly impacted the residents’ quality of life and sense of security.
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