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Man Leases House to Expectant Couple, Doesn't Mention It Used to Be a Meth Lab
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A Los Angeles couple is suing a man who leased them a home without bothering to mention that it used to be a meth lab.Last May William Mohler and his wife Rebecca Popkin—three months pregnant at the time—moved into a home on Chase Avenue (which Google maps puts somewhere near Marina Del Rey). But right away the couple noticed something didn't seem right, according to City News Service, citing a lawsuit filed on Wednesday.
"Shortly after moving in, plaintiffs began experiencing discomfort due to a strong chemical smell present in the premises," the suit says.
They brought it up with their landlord William Stein, who admitted he knew about the house's sordid history. He had even hired an industrial hygienist to make sure the house was safe. The expert's assessment? The home was safe unless "one were to lick the contaminated areas."
The couple hired their own hygienist who came up with a different conclusion: "The results of these tests indicated that essentially the entire premises were contaminated with methamphetamine residue at levels far in excess of those permitted by California law, that the home was completely unsafe and that remediation of the premises were not readily achievable at reasonable cost."
The couple moved out and ditched their belongings. They're suing Stein and seeking at least $49,700, alleging breach of contract, fraud, negligence and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
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