Los Angeles City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto filed a civil lawsuit on October 31, 2023, against downtown landlord Dae Hou Lee and related corporate entities, alleging a pattern of tenant harassment and illegal eviction tactics at the Apollo DTLA apartment complex. According to the complaint filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court, the property management subjected rent-stabilized tenants to severe habitability violations, utility shutoffs, and intimidation to force them out of their homes.
Lawsuit Details and Tenant Harassment Allegations at Apollo DTLA
The legal action targets Dae Hou Lee, operating through entities such as Apollo DTLA LLC, for violations of the Los Angeles Municipal Code and California tenant protection laws. According to the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office, management allegedly engaged in deliberate campaigns to drive out long-term residents living under the city’s Rent Stabilization Ordinance. Investigators documented unpermitted construction dust, prolonged elevator outages, and the intentional disabling of security gates to create unlivable conditions.
City prosecutors state that landlords who bypass legal eviction channels face aggressive municipal enforcement. The lawsuit seeks civil penalties of up to $2,500 for each violation, alongside mandatory injunctions to halt construction harassment and immediate repairs to building infrastructure. Tenants reported receiving sudden, unlawful notices to vacate alongside threats of exorbitant rent increases if they complained to municipal housing inspectors.
Enforcement of Los Angeles Rent Stabilization and Tenant Protections
The case underscores municipal efforts to crack down on landlords attempting to circumvent the Los Angeles Rent Stabilization Ordinance through constructive eviction. According to public housing records, downtown Los Angeles has experienced a surge in redevelopment pressure, leading property owners to target rent-controlled units. City officials emphasized that property owners must follow strict legal procedures rather than utilizing harassment tactics to reset rental rates for incoming tenants.
Legal aid organizations note that tenant harassment often goes underreported due to language barriers or fear of retaliation. The City Attorney’s Office encourages affected residents to report habitability issues and intimidation directly through the Los Angeles Housing Department portal, ensuring documented evidence is available for ongoing investigations.
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