Residents file lawsuit against Milwaukee's housing authority over bedbug infestation

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- A group of public housing residents are filing a class-action lawsuit against the Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee (HACM).

They claim this comes after pest control issues have gone unresolved for years at College Court apartments on Highland Boulevard.

"When I go to sleep at night, they're crawling all over me. They're all over the floor, they're all over the walls," said Carmella Holloway.

Holloway says she's fed up and tired of living with bedbugs every day. "I just pulled two out of my ear this morning. I shouldn't have to live like that," she said.

Carmella is a senior in her 60's and says bedbugs have been a problem here for the last 5 years. She's been a resident of the building for nearly 18 years and says HACM is not making the problem a priority. She says the experience has been extremely degrading.

"I'm not behind in rent or nothing, so why are they treating me like I'm an outcast," she said.

Stacy Ream, another resident says he feels the same. "HACM has come, and they have sprayed and sprayed .... but the bedbugs will never go away. They continue to crawl around as if they pay rent there," said Ream.

Ream and Holloway are two of five residents here named on a class action lawsuit against HACM.

They're working with non-profit common ground in the case who says over the last five years, more than 2,000 work orders have been submitted to address pest control issues. They claim many of those have gone unresolved.

"The entire idea of this is that if HACM solves the problem, the lawsuit is going to go away,"
 said Michael Cerjak, the attorney representing the residents in this case.

HACM is the second largest landlord in Milwaukee and although legally is a separate entity from the city, the mayor's office and Common Council have control over appointing leadership.

Residents and leaders at Common Ground want HACM Secretary-Executive Director Willie Hines replaced and claim Mayor Cavalier Johnson is protecting Hines.

The mayor denied those claims. "I saw the recent letter from Common Ground saying that 'Johnson is trying to...protect Willie Hines. He is looking out for his pension or what not' .... I don't know how old Willie Hines is or when he's going to retire...that is...silly," said Mayor Johnson.

Mayor Johnson says he's waiting for the common council to approve his updated HACM appointments.

"I want the council to confirm those individuals so that we can be solutions oriented as it relates to HACM," he said.

CBS 58 reached out to HACM for comment on the class action lawsuit. A representative responded and said HACM cannot comment on pending litigation.

Common Ground leaders say other residents are welcome to join the class-action lawsuit.