Spigot Runs Dry : Family Lives on Borrowed Water as Landlord Fails to Pay Bill

When Mary and Vernell Ramsey rented a house last August for themselves and their seven children, they had no idea they would end up in a battle over water.

But since January water has been cut off several times to their Lake View Terrace home, forcing them to live on bottled water and water borrowed from their in-laws or from a neighbor’s hose.

The couple and their children, ages 1 to 17, used neighbors’ bathrooms.

“It’s been a hardship in our family,” said Mary Ramsey, 38.

Dispute Unresolved

Although the family has water today, the dispute is far from settled. It is in the hands of a court, which will decide who is responsible for paying a $648 water bill.

This is what happened, according to the Ramseys, their attorney and Los Angeles Department of Water and Power officials:

Several months after the Ramseys moved into their three-bedroom home, a DWP serviceman arrived to turn off the water. When the Ramseys asked DWP why, they were told it was for non-payment of the $648 bill.

The Ramseys told DWP that they had an agreement with their landlord, Norman Majors, that he would pay the water bill, which was sent to Majors. However, DWP officials said they required written proof of such an agreement. The Ramseys could not produce such proof.

“That is the problem,” said Jim Derry, DWP director of customer services. “A rental or lease agreement is needed. If that information is supplied, the matter can be resolved instantly.”

In the meantime, the bank holding the mortgage on the house foreclosed on Majors, taking over the house in March. The house was subsequently purchased by Lincoln Service Corp.

New Owner’s View

Although Lincoln Service was willing to pay the water bill from the time it acquired the property, it was unwilling to pay the back bill.

“That wasn’t our responsibility,” said Joan Moore, a secretary for Lincoln. “The only person who can be responsible for Mr. Majors’ bill is Mr. Majors.”

Despite numerous efforts, Majors could not be located for comment.

During months of wrangling, water has been cut off at the Ramseys’ several times. Starting May 19, the Ramseys went without water for six days. It was restored only because Mary Ramsey called a DWP number that responds to emergencies. But the water was turned off the next day.

“Not having water in the house was hard,” said Kaneka Ramsey, 9.

All or Nothing

Mary Ramsey said that at one point she tried to pay DWP $203 but “they wouldn’t take it.” She said she was told that she must pay the entire bill or nothing.

The Ramseys have sought help from Neighborhood Legal Services attorney David S. Pallack, who filed a $25,000 suit against DWP. He also sought and got a temporary restraining order restoring water to the Ramseys pending a court hearing on Wednesday.

“There’s nothing that points to anyone being responsible for the bill but the former landlord,” Pallack said.

“Water is such a drastic need. They have nine people in their family. All this was unnecessary.”