BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — New York Attorney General Letitia James announced she has filed a lawsuit against a Buffalo landlord Farhad Raiszadeh, his wife Shohre Zahedi, and their companies, Raiszadeh Group.
The lawsuit is due to "repeated and flagrant violations of lead safety laws at dozens of properties in East Buffalo."
According to AG James, the Raiszadeh Group owns 75 properties and 47 of them have been cited for lead paint hazard violations. In addition, the AG said at least 16 children have been diagnosed with lead poisoning while living in those properties.
The AG is seeking to require the Raiszadeh Group to pay substantial penalties and restitution to the impacted families and give up profits such as rent payments totaling potentially hundreds of thousands of dollars.
In addition, the AG also seeks an order to:
- Stop the Raiszadeh Group’s harmful housing practices
- Require them to inspect every unit for lead hazards on a regular basis
- Swiftly remediate all lead exposure risks in a safe manner
- Provide tenants with legal and accurate lead disclosures
Prime Heritage Homes, LLC, Premier Heritage Homes, LLC, Premium Heritage Homes, LLC, Maxinnova, Inc., and Maxinnova Defined Benefits Plan are also named in the lawsuit. Erie County and the City of Buffalo also joined AG James as part of the lawsuit.
Common Council Member Rasheed Wyatt represents the University District. He told 7 News' Pheben Kassahun he is applauding Attorney General Letitia James for shedding light on this issue because it is something municipalities have been dealing with for years.
"I think it sends a message to residents saying that you aren't forgotten about, because in some cases it feels like they are because we have people who are investors from out of town, who in many cases, could care less about the situation with many of these residents to deal with. Some of them are just collecting rent and not fixing these places up," Council Member Wyatt said over a Zoom interview. "It's not about the quality of life, it's not about the community. It's just another way for them to make money. I am okay with that but not to the detriment of the residents who they rent to or that they should just have to deal with Squallor or with poor conditions just because you're an out-of-town investor to hit your numbers."
Wyatt added that James' background helps her understand what impacts communities like Buffalo's east side.
"Diversity means a lot in having the State AG who is from a community such as these, I think gives her the insights to what's been plaguing us for a long time, and a lot of times, when you don't have that type of experience, you don't understand the importance of taking steps like this," he explained.
“In Buffalo and throughout New York, Black and brown children and their families disproportionately suffer the lifelong impacts of lead paint exposure. We cannot allow landlords’ neglect to steal our children’s futures. We will hold the Raiszadeh Group accountable for their actions and will continue fighting to ensure all children are able to grow up in safe and healthy homes.”
“Repeated, flagrant violations of safe housing laws have resulted in this legal action, and I thank Attorney General James for bringing it. This landlord was well aware of the danger he was placing his tenants in and had been advised to remediate his properties numerous times by the Department of Health. “There is no excuse for his failure to do so and it is reprehensible that he willfully allowed these dangerous conditions to continue. The law exists to protect tenants and punish wrongdoers, and now this landlord will experience the consequences of his actions.”
“The City of Buffalo’s Department of Permit and Inspection Services, like other municipalities, has legal enforcement limitations in holding out of town slumlords accountable for exploiting and endangering our residents. Slumlords use sophisticated business structures to evade city codes and laws that would force property owners to provide safe and suitable housing. I am thankful for the continued support of Attorney General James’ Office to bring these bad actors to justice and keep our residents safe.”
