Spartanburg Resident Sues Townhome Developer for Negligence
Residents of Spartanburg woke up to abundant sunshine today, with the temperature expected to peak at an acceptable 54F. However, the weather report seems to be the minor news for the locals as Priscilla Mayes, a tenant of the Robert Smalls Townhomes, has decided to bring to light a much darker cloud.
With clear skies tonight and a predicted low of 21F, things are definitely taking a cold turn, and not just in terms of the mercury. Priscilla Mayes, a resident of the townhome complex, is not just brooding over the winter cold, but a chilling experience she became victim to due to the alleged negligence of the developer of her dwelling place.
The Fall and the Aftermath
Mayes, a resident of the Robert Smalls Townhomes, reports that she fell through her kitchen floor, breaking her ankle. The shocking event has resulted in an exorbitant medical bill summing up to a whopping $227,000. The devastating incident is believed to be due to negligence on the part of the developer, and Mayes has decided to take the developer to court.
โI asked them multiple times, fix that floor,โ Mayes had reportedly pointed out during a talk. โThey wouldnโt fix the floor. They keep putting it off, putting it off.โ This not only demonstrates Mayesโ continual attempts to highlight the issue but also underscores the lack of action from the developerโs end.
Expected Improvement Turns Sour
Mayes, who is 55, moved into the affordable housing complex, hoping it would provide her with better conditions than her previous Section 8 Norris Ridge apartments. The complex was developed as part of the city’s plan to provide improved housing. However, it didnโt take long for residents to spot the malfunctioning heat and air conditioning units and other issues urrounding the townhomes.
The Lawsuit
A lawsuit was brought forward by Mayes against the property developer and associated services, accusing them of negligence and seeking unspecified actual and punitive damages. Mayesโ broken ankle required two surgeries and screws in her foot, resulting in the significant medical bill. โThis hotel where sheโs living, for lack of a better term, itโs a dump, plainly put, is where she is,โ lamented her attorney.
Following her eviction from Robert Smalls Townhomes and the subsequent foot surgery, Mayes has been living in a motel on West Main Street. The expenses thereof have been a โliving on the edgeโ experience for her, made more complicated by an uncertain amount of medical bill coverage from Medicaid.
It is not just about the financial burden, though the $227,000 in medical bills is significant. The litigation initiated by Mayes and her lawyers is also about sending a message, letting landlords and building owners know that itโs not acceptable to give scant attention to residents’ wellbeing. Itโs about the failure of a system that was initially designed to provide a haven for those at risk. With current standards barely letting her get by, Mayesโ unfortunate plight is a reflection of a system that still isnโt just enough.
Aiming for a Change
Mayesโ attorney rightly points out, โThey shouldn’t be able to retaliate against you and evict you for trumped-up reasons and leave you living in a pay-by-the-week motel with barely enough heat and water and utilities to get by in the winter.โ Hereโs hoping Mayes’ efforts result in a much-needed change in the way tenants are treated.
