New York Attorney General Letitia James last Thursday filed a lawsuit against River Valley Estates, LLC (River Valley), a mobile home park in Sullivan County, and its operators, George Levin and Gayla Sue Levin, for years of failing to maintain essential infrastructure in the park that left hundreds of residents without clean water.
The lawsuit alleges residents have to endure raw sewage overflowing into their homes, regular water outages, polluted water, and other unsafe conditions in their community.
In addition, the lawsuit alleges River Valley has charged illegal fees and rent increases and entered into leases that unlawfully fail to protect tenants’ rights. They face paying $2.3 million in restitution and pay up to $295,000 in penalties.
Since 2017, the over 200 residents of River Valley routinely face boil water orders and have their water shut off entirely, forcing them to spend their own money to obtain clean water. Park residents have described the water as putrid, sulfuric, sandy, gritty, and topped with a slick, oily film.
In addition, the lawsuit alleges failing and improperly repaired septic systems have also caused sewage to flow into residents’ homes and onto their property.
ABC 7.30 would have a field day!
