A preliminary injunction request to halt evictions at the rent-controlled Barrington Plaza apartment complex in West Los Angeles has been denied by a judge. The Barrington Plaza Tenant Association sought the injunction pending the outcome of their lawsuit against the landlords.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge James C. Chalfant ruled that the notice of the injunction application was flawed procedurally and that future requests should be made with Judge Jill Feeney, who will preside over the trial.
Judge Chalfant also instructed the attorneys to work towards an agreement so that the landlords, Barrington Pacific LLC and Douglas Emmett Inc., refrain from filing any eviction actions until after a hearing on the preliminary injunction.
The tenants’ lawyers argued in their court papers that the “anticipated evictions” violate local and state laws. They contended that if the court does not enjoin the defendants, it would result in the largest mass eviction in Los Angeles history, affecting 558 households in the West Los Angeles area.
In response, the defense attorneys maintained that granting the residents’ injunction request would not only deny the landlords their right to a regular hearing with sufficient time to oppose it but would also inappropriately provide emergency relief where there is no actual emergency.
The lawsuit was filed on June 12 after the owners announced their plans to close the apartment complex. The buildings, which have experienced two fires in the past decade, including a fatal one, require renovation with fire sprinklers and safety upgrades. The complaint focuses on the misuse of the Ellis Act, a state law that permits landlords to evict tenants if they plan to remove the units from the rental market.
Barrington Plaza spokesperson Eric Rose stated in response to the tenant action that the property is following the rules set forth by the Ellis Act and the City’s implementing ordinances. The owners are uncertain about the future of the units and are considering various options, including rehabilitating the complex to meet current fire and safety requirements.
The tenant suit argues that the landlords can make the necessary safety upgrades without permanently displacing the tenants, the majority of whom are retirees, working-class individuals, white-collar workers, and students.
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