A tenant in Sacramento is taking legal action against her landlords for failing to maintain habitable living conditions, leading to severe health and safety violations. Jackie Harris filed the complaint on June 13, 2024, in the Superior Court of California, County of Sacramento, against Wendao Meng, Sujing Wu, and Jing & Yuan LLC.
Jackie Harris has been a tenant at the multi-unit residential property located at 3904 43rd Avenue since October 2017. Despite fulfilling her lease obligations and being in lawful possession of her unit, Harris alleges that the property has been uninhabitable due to numerous unresolved issues. The lawsuit details a litany of problems including infestations of cockroaches, bedbugs, and rodents; structural issues like leaky ceilings and broken windows; and hazardous conditions such as mold growth and lack of hot water. Harris claims these conditions have persisted despite repeated complaints to the landlords.
The plaintiff's expert inspection on April 7, 2024, identified multiple substandard conditions that violate state housing laws. These include insect infestations, non-operational heating systems, water damage, mold presence, missing doorknobs, damaged flooring, and exposed electrical parts. Harris argues that these conditions are not only nuisances but also pose significant health risks.
Harris accuses the defendants of failing to provide a habitable dwelling as required by law. She asserts that the landlords' negligence violates several civil codes including Civil Code §1941.1 regarding habitability standards and Health and Safety Code §17920.3 concerning substandard housing conditions. The complaint also cites local Sacramento City Codes related to public nuisances.
The plaintiff seeks general and special damages for physical injury, emotional distress, loss of personal property, additional living expenses incurred due to the uninhabitable conditions, rent abatement for the period affected by these issues, and punitive damages for intentional misconduct by the landlords.
Representing Jackie Harris are attorneys Chandra Gehri Spencer and Margaret A. Elder from Elder & Spencer LLP. The case is presided over by Judge [Name], under Case ID #40200117FOS.