Lakeside

A Superior Court jury Monday awarded $3.8 million in damages to 268 residents of a Lakeside mobile home park who sued the park owner in a dispute over rent increases and maintenance problems. The residents filed their complaint in October after Merle F. Palmer, owner of the Lake Jennings Mobile Home Park, notified them that he was going to raise rents by 50% to 100%. Park residents refused to pay what they called “exorbitant rent increases” and complained about sewer backups and odors at the park.

Henry Heater, attorney for the residents, argued that the excessive rents and sewer problems had caused a loss of at least $10,000 in the value of each mobile home. Individual awards ranged from $18,700 to $86,000 per mobile home. The other verdicts included $1.9 million in punitive damages, $1.1 million for loss of mobile homes and $800,000 for emotional distress suffered by tenants.

Palmer and his attorneys could not be reached for comment Monday afternoon after the verdict was announced. The park manager refused to comment and said said that Palmer had left his Chula Vista office for the day. This was the second time that Palmer has been sued by park residents. A $5-million suit filed by tenants in 1978 was settled out of court.