Eva Anderson has filed a civil complaint against Kenneth Baritz, Esq., Baritz Law Associates LLC, and PMC Property Group, Inc. in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania on May 15, 2024. The complaint alleges violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and local Philadelphia rental laws.
According to the court documents, Eva Anderson is a tenant residing at 30 North 23rd Street, Philadelphia. She signed a lease agreement on February 14, 2022, with her landlord, 30 North 23rd Street Associates LLC. The property is managed by PMC Property Group, Inc., with Diane Green serving as the on-site property manager. Anderson claims that at the inception of her tenancy on February 25, 2022, the landlord failed to provide a valid Rental License or a Certificate of Rental Suitability as required by Section §9-3903(1)(a) of the Philadelphia Code.
The complaint details how Anderson discovered multiple issues with her rented apartment that violated the implied warranty of habitability. These included frequent malfunctions of elevators which posed significant risks to her son who has an orthopedic disability and relies solely on elevators for mobility. Despite numerous complaints and reports to property management about these issues and other safety concerns such as unauthorized access to common areas and misuse of amenities like the swimming pool, no substantial actions were taken to address them.
In July 2023, after withholding rent due to unresolved safety issues and non-compliance with local laws by the landlord, Baritz Law Associates LLC initiated eviction proceedings against Anderson for alleged non-payment of rent. Anderson asserts that this action was unlawful as no rent was legally due because of the landlord's failure to comply with Philadelphia’s rental regulations. She also highlights deceptive practices employed by Baritz Law Associates in their communications regarding debt collection and eviction processes.
Anderson seeks various forms of relief from the court including a stay of eviction proceedings and injunctive relief against further unlawful actions by the defendants. She also demands actual damages for distress caused by these actions along with statutory damages under FDCPA provisions.
Representing herself pro se in this case, Eva Anderson aims to hold Kenneth L. Baritz and his associates accountable for their alleged unethical practices while seeking justice through proper legal channels.