Landlord Sued, Told to Clean Up Building

A landlord who has been under investigation for allegedly maintaining substandard dwellings in Los Angeles was given 15 days by a judge on Thursday to clean up an apartment building in the Pico-Union District that tenants say is overrun by rats, cockroaches and other vermin.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Warren H. Deering issued a temporary restraining order against Lance Jay Robbins, a West Los Angeles attorney, in a $10-million lawsuit filed against him Wednesday by tenants who live at the dilapidated building at 801 S. Union Ave.

Eight poor families sued Robbins, contending that they were under constant attack by rats and plagued by cockroaches and other insects. They also contend that the building’s security is virtually non-existent, and that there is no hot water in many of the units for weeks at a time.

Robbins argued in court that he has made “more than $200,000 in good faith repairs” since he purchased the building two years ago.

A hearing to review the repairs required by Thursday’s order was set for June 20.