The District of Columbia has filed a sweeping lawsuit against the owner and property managers of two apartment buildings in the historic Deanwood neighborhood of Ward 7. The lawsuit accuses them of forcing tenants to live in conditions so dire that they pose a serious threat to health, safety, and human dignity.
Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb filed the civil action on Thursday against Mikhail Phillips, 711 49th Street LLC, RLP Investment Group LLC, and Vision Realty Management LLC. The lawsuit outlines severe and persistent violations of the District’s Housing Code and Property Maintenance Code at 5128 and 5134 Sheriff Road NE.
The complaint claims that the buildings are plagued by mountains of uncollected trash, rodent and bedbug infestations, pervasive mold, unsafe electrical wiring, water damage, and unsecured entry points that have allowed rampant illegal activity, including drug use and gun violence. In just two years, seven people have been found dead at the properties, including four homicide victims, according to the complaint.
“Landlords and property managers have a legal obligation to provide a safe and sanitary living environment for their residents,” Schwalb said. “Tenants at Sheriff Road have been forced to endure horrific, dangerous conditions for far too long, and such blatant disregard for District residents’ health and safety stops today.”
Karen Glover, who has lived at 5128 Sheriff Road since 2013, detailed how a massive leak from the unit above led to the ceiling in her kitchen and dining room collapsing. She said mold has built up, her stove hasn’t worked in years, and no repairs have been made despite repeated emails to Phillips.
“I’m grateful to Attorney General Schwalb for bringing this lawsuit and what will hopefully be relief for myself and my neighbors,” Glover said.
According to the lawsuit and accompanying complaint filed in D.C. Superior Court, the District’s Department of Buildings (DOB) has issued more than 30 Notices of Infraction since 2021 for over 100 violations at the properties. Some violations were classified as “life-safety hazards” requiring abatement within 24 hours. The basement of one building remained flooded with toxic, debris-filled water for nearly six months.
Despite repeated citations and warnings from city officials, the lawsuit says Phillips responded dismissively, at one point allegedly telling investigators, “This is not my problem. Stop contacting me,” and sarcastically suggesting they “call Batman and Robin.”
Ward 7 Councilmember Wendell Felder said the neglect is indefensible.
“Residents throughout the District and Ward 7 have the right to live in habitable and accessible housing,” Felder said. “Any deviation from this basic standard of living is unacceptable.”
The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) is seeking court-appointed receivership to rehabilitate the properties and remedy the long-standing health and safety hazards. The lawsuit also demands restitution for tenants, civil penalties, and immediate abatement of all illegal drug and firearm-related activity on-site.
The buildings reportedly operate without a valid Certificate of Occupancy, a Basic Business License, or licensed property managers — all required under D.C. law.
The complaint documents harrowing accounts of unsafe conditions. Tenants reported unstable electricity that left entire rooms without power and missing carbon monoxide detectors and fire extinguishers. According to the complaint, water damage, leaking ceilings, and active mold infestations remain unaddressed.
Further, trash is reportedly so overwhelming that residents have pooled funds to pay people with trucks to haul it away themselves. Interior hallways have been littered with abandoned vehicle seats, boxes, and even an ATV.
The lawsuit also lays out how illegal gun and drug activity has overrun the properties. D.C. police have recovered firearms, crack cocaine, and drug paraphernalia on multiple occasions. Tenants reported squatters entering their homes while they were away, and the buildings have been described by law enforcement as crack houses and open-air drug markets.
Despite being notified of the dangerous activity, Phillips and his companies refused to act.
“I have no part in this entity. #diplomaticimmunity,” Phillips allegedly said in response to a formal notice from the Attorney General’s office.
The lawsuit asserts violations of the Consumer Protection Procedures Act, the Tenant Receivership Act, and the Drug, Firearm, or Prostitution-Related Nuisance Abatement Act.
“Because Defendants’ unlawful acts and practices present a continuing threat to the District and its residents, they harm the public interest,” the lawsuit states.
If successful, the District will not only force the defendants to pay damages and penalties but also transfer control of the property to a court-appointed receiver who will ensure tenants can finally live in safe and decent housing.
“This is about protecting vulnerable residents from a cycle of exploitation and neglect,” Schwalb said. “Every Washingtonian deserves to live in dignity and safety.”