Filed Date: Aug. 28, 2024
Case Ongoing
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This case involved housing conditions in College Court, an apartment building managed by the Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee, which was purportedly infested with bedbugs, roaches, and mice. On August 28, 2024, several residents of the building filed suit against the Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee in Wisconsin state trial court. The residents claimed that the apartment building’s unsanitary conditions violated Wisconsin state statutory and common law. Specifically, the residents relied on the implied duty of habitability, an equitable duty that parallels Wis. Stat. § 704.07(4), which provided for rent abatement if a condition materially affected the health or safety of the tenant or substantially affected the use and occupancy of the premises. Represented by private counsel, the residents sought class action certification and a declaration that the infestation materially affected the health and safety of tenants and substantially affected the use and occupancy of the premises. If the infestation was not remedied, the residents also sought an order declaring that the plaintiffs and members of the class were entitled to rent abatement. The case was assigned to Judge J.D. Watts.
On January 1, 2025, the residents filed a motion for class certification.
As of February 11, 2025, the case was ongoing.
Summary Authors
Maddie Turk (2/13/2025)
State / Territory: Wisconsin
Case Type(s):
Fair Housing/Lending/Insurance
Key Dates
Filing Date: Aug. 28, 2024
Case Ongoing: Yes
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
Class-action plaintiffs are residents of College Court who allege that they have been facing, and suffering through, an infestation of bedbugs and rodents.
Plaintiff Type(s):
Public Interest Lawyer: No
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: Yes
Class Action Outcome: Pending
Defendants
Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee (Milwaukee, Milwaukee), City
Defendant Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: None Yet / None
Nature of Relief:
Source of Relief:
Issues
General/Misc.: