Office of the Attorney General

“The Park at 14th, will pay $243,350 to harmed workers and the District to resolve an investigation into alleged violations of DC’s wage and hour laws.”

By Prince Of Petworth


920 14th Street, NW photo by DC Attorney General Brian Schwalb

From the office of the DC Attorney General:

“Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb today announced that Park Place Inc., which owns and operates the restaurant, nightclub, and event venue The Park at 14th, will pay $243,350 to harmed workers and the District to resolve an investigation that the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) has conducted into alleged violations of DC’s wage and hour laws. OAG found that the company failed to provide hundreds of workers with paid sick leave, misclassified some workers as independent contractors to avoid providing them the wages and benefits they were entitled to as employees, and illegally retaliated against certain workers who raised concerns about tips or wages by removing them from the schedule or cutting their pay rate.

“Today, we’re putting money back in the pockets of hundreds of workers who were denied the compensation and benefits they were legally entitled to,” said Attorney General Schwalb. “Wage theft and illegal worker misclassification does not only harm hard-working employees – it also interferes with honest businesses’ ability to compete on a level playing field. At a time when families across the District are struggling to make ends meet, my office will continue to fight to make sure workers receive what they’ve earned and that businesses operating in DC follow the law.”

The Park at 14th is a large restaurant, nightclub, and event venue located at 920 14th Street NW in Ward 2. An investigation by OAG uncovered evidence that it violated DC’s wage and hour laws with respect to more than 270 workers by: (more…)

“DC Developer will pay $400,000 to fund repairs to a Ward 4 condo building that was improperly constructed and sways in the wind due to insufficient structural supports.”

By Prince Of Petworth


via google maps

Sways in the what now? Sways in the wind due to insufficient structural supports you say? Good gravy.

From the office of the DC Attorney General:

“Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb announced that DC developer Steven Sushner will pay $400,000 to fund repairs to a Ward 4 condo building that was improperly constructed and sways in the wind due to insufficient structural supports.

Under the terms of a settlement agreement negotiated by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG), alongside the unit owners, multiple legal cases related to shoddy construction at 4022 Georgia Avenue NW are being resolved. Specifically, Sushner will be required to pay the building’s Homeowners Association (HOA) $400,000, which will pay for structural reinforcements and other repairs needed to ensure the safety of the unit owners and the community. This settlement comes after OAG secured a decision in the DC Court of Appeals (DCCA) that upheld the authority of the DC Department of Buildings (DOB) to order the developer to fix the structural problems at the building, and after 4022 Georgia Avenue LLC (4022 LLC), a company owned by Sushner that developed the building, entered into bankruptcy. In addition to the $400,000 Sushner will pay, the condo unit owners will also receive additional proceeds from 4022 LLC’s bankruptcy. The combined proceeds will be used to repair the structural problems and bring the property into compliance with District law. (more…)

OAG Files Lawsuit against “a large apartment building in Ward 2, for charging junk fees and hiding the true cost of rent from prospective tenants.”

By Prince Of Petworth

From the Office of the Attorney General (OAG):

“Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb today filed a lawsuit against Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc., and its subsidiaries Mid-America Apartments, L.P., and Post 1499 Massachusetts, LLC (collectively, “MAA”), the owners and managers of a large apartment building in Ward 2, for charging junk fees and hiding the true cost of rent from prospective tenants.

The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) alleges that MAA overcharged tenants and violated DC law by assessing a variety of illegal fees, including mandatory monthly fees for basic services that, as a matter of law, are already included in rent, like common area maintenance. In its lawsuit, OAG also details how MAA misled tenants searching for housing by advertising deceptively low “starting at” prices that did not include mandatory fees and were therefore not actually available to anyone.

“The rent you see advertised should be the rent you pay,” said Attorney General Schwalb. “MAA has been nickel-and-diming DC tenants with illegal hidden fees and concealing the true price of leasing their apartments. DC housing is already too expensive, and my office is putting an end to practices that prey on tenants and those looking for clear, reliable information when searching for a place to live.”

MAA is a Tennessee-based real estate investment trust that owns and operates more than 300 rental apartment complexes across 16 states and the District of Columbia. In the District, MAA owns and manages a 269-unit apartment building located at 1499 Massachusetts Avenue NW. (more…)

Dangerous Driving Update: “14 Maryland and Virginia drivers are legally obligated to pay to the District a total of $531,192 in unpaid fines, penalties and fees for traffic citations.”

By Prince Of Petworth

From the Office of the Attorney General (OAG):

“Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb today announced that the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) won nine new judgments in lawsuits filed against dangerous drivers under the Strengthening Traffic Enforcement, Education, and Responsibility (STEER) Act, in addition to entering into five settlements in STEER Act cases. As a result of these judgments and settlements, 14 Maryland and Virginia drivers are legally obligated to pay to the District a total of $531,192 in unpaid fines, penalties and fees for traffic citations. OAG also filed five new lawsuits against out-of-state dangerous drivers who have amassed a combined total of 1,966 driving infractions on DC roads and who collectively owe the District nearly $625,194. (more…)

DC AG: “Talea Ristorante and Owner Owe Harmed Workers More than $1.3 Million in Restitution”

By Prince Of Petworth


3228 Wisconsin Avenue, NW previously home to Cafe Deluxe

From the DC Office of the Attorney General (OAG):

“Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb today announced that the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) secured a $1.75 million judgment against Talea Ristorante and its owner, Hamza Hadani, for systematically stealing employees’ wages and violating numerous laws that protect District workers.

The judgment requires Talea and Hadani to pay $1,332,408 in restitution to 95 harmed restaurant workers, (more…)

DC joins lawsuit that alleges “Uber used numerous deceptive and unfair practices in offering and selling its Uber One subscription – More than 100,000 DC residents are Uber One subscribers”!!

By Prince Of Petworth

From the office of the DC Attorney General:

“Attorney General Brian Schwalb announced today that his office, along with a coalition of 24 state law enforcement agencies, is joining a lawsuit previously filed by the Federal Trade Commission against Uber Technologies, LLC and Uber USA, LLC (Uber), the operators of the rideshare and delivery company. The lawsuit alleges that Uber used numerous deceptive and unfair practices in offering and selling its Uber One subscription service, which the company promotes as saving users money on rides and deliveries. However, the coalition alleges that Uber violated consumer protection laws in multiple ways, including by enrolling users without their consent, charging users for subscriptions before their free trials ended, preventing them from cancelling their subscriptions, and misleading users about savings. More than 100,000 DC residents are Uber One subscribers. (more…)

“Consumer Alert warning District residents to be on the lookout for gift card scams this holiday season.”

By Prince Of Petworth


photo by Erin

From the Office of the DC Attorney General:

“Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb today issued the below Consumer Alert warning District residents to be on the lookout for gift card scams this holiday season. The alert provides details on common tactics that scammers use, tips on how to avoid falling victim to a gift card scam, and instructions on what residents should do if they believe they have been scammed. (more…)

“U.S. District Judge (ruled) that the federal government’s deployment of National Guard troops to the District is illegal.”

By Prince Of Petworth


photo by Diane Krauthamer

From the office of the DC Attorney General:

“Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb issued the below statement following today’s ruling from U.S. District Judge Jia M. Cobb that the federal government’s deployment of National Guard troops to the District is illegal. Judge Cobb granted the Office of the Attorney General’s request for a preliminary injunction, but stayed the order for 21 days to allow the defendants an opportunity to appeal. (more…)

“DC Trails Will Program Engines on Entire Bus Fleet to Prevent Illegal Idling and Re-Train Drivers to Protect Health and Safety of DC Residents”

By Prince Of Petworth


photo by Emma K Alexandra

From the Office of the Attorney General (OAG):

“Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb today announced that DC Trails, a local charter bus company, and its subsidiary DC2NY (which does business as BestBus), will pay $85,000 and program its bus engines to shut off after three minutes of idling as part of a settlement with the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) to address persistent air pollution violations.

An investigation by the District’s Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) and the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) uncovered evidence that DC Trails buses frequently idled their engines for longer (more…)

“Washington Gas Has Failed to Take Action to Stop Toxic Chemicals from Leaching into the Anacostia River; Settlement Requires Additional Mitigation Measures”

By Prince Of Petworth


photo by Jim Havard

From the DC Office of the Attorney General (OAG):

“Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb today announced that Washington Gas has agreed to contain hazardous pollution actively seeping into the Anacostia River at the former site of the company’s East Station, a gas plant that operated on the banks of the river for nearly 100 years.

An investigation by the District’s Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) and the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) uncovered evidence that toxic chemicals—byproducts of gas manufacturing at the shuttered plant—are currently bubbling up from the contaminated riverbed and seeping into the water from polluted soil on the riverbank. OAG alleges that Washington Gas has failed to take adequate steps to prevent the ongoing release of pollutants. Under the terms of a new settlement agreement, the company must install a new floating boom to contain pollution on the surface of the water; install new barriers to prevent the release of pollutants from the riverbed and riverbank; submit to ongoing monitoring by the District; and face fines for any noncompliance. (more…)

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