Once again, Riley Ersoff LLP partner Victoria Ersoff proves you can't keep a great lawyer down. In September, 2025, Victoria mediated a one family bed bug case with the Hon. Craig Karlan (Ret.) of ADR resulting in a settlement of $1,000,000 for a very deserving family. The firm's clients were Marvin Moreno, Martha Salas, their daughter Caterin and four-year old granddaughter Yanir. Defendants were JEM Properties LLC and property manager CAREBF, Inc.
The Salas family moved into a small apartment on S. Soto St. in Los Angeles in February, 2024, only to find that it was infested with bed bugs. Despite providing JEM and its property manager photo after photo of little Yanir covered in bites and resulting welts, swollen eyes, and allergic reactions, defendants did what all slum lords do – they ignored their hard working tenants. To make matters worse, defendants made clear that they would send pest control but only if plaintiffs agreed to pay. When plaintiffs refused, defendants suggested that the women stay at a homeless shelter and that Mr. Moreno sleep in his car. Realizing that respect and empathy were not in defendants' vocabulary, plaintiffs had no choice but to abandon all of their infested possessions, vacate the apartment, and declare a constructive eviction.
After defendants learned that plaintiffs had hired counsel, they sent an exterminator to the property who confirmed a live bed bug and cockroach infestation throughout the property.
In December, 2024, plaintiffs filed suit in the Los Angeles County Superior Court, Central District alleging causes of action for defendants' Breach of the Implied Warranty of Habitability; Tortious Breach of Implied Warranty of Habitability; Negligence; Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress; Private Nuisance; Violation of Civil Code Section 1942.4; Violation of Business & Professions Code Section 17200; Violation of the Los Angeles Tenant Anti-Harassment Ordinance; and Constructive Eviction.
Less than one year later, plaintiffs and defendants mediated with the Hon. Craig Karlan (Ret.) at ADR Services in Los Angeles. At mediation, defendants' insurer State Farm agreed to settle with plaintiffs for $1,000,000 (policy limits).
Victoria and her team at Riley Ersoff LLP are the best in the business. We sue landlords. We win.
And we change lives - one family at a time.
