Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 02/28/07

Contact person(s):

Media Coordinator, Donna Edwards - (707) 565-3099 Media Spokesperson, Assistant District Attorney Christine Cook

Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California

SONOMA MOBILE HOME PARK OWNER SETTLES
RENT CONTROL VIOLATIONS CASE

Sonoma County District Attorney Stephan R. Passalacqua announced today the settlement of a consumer protection lawsuit filed against Cathedral Canyon Mobile Estates ("Cathedral Canyon"), the owner of Seven Flags of Sonoma mobile home park in Sonoma, California, for alleged violations of the county’s mobile home rent control laws.

District Attorney Passalacqua stated, "Our office is committed to protecting affordable housing and the rights of senior citizens in Sonoma County."

Cathedral Canyon agreed to a stipulated judgment, without admitting liability, which was just recently approved by the Sonoma County Superior Court and requires Cathedral Canyon to pay $76,000 in restitution to 14 residents of the park, $13,500 in civil penalties and $10,000 in costs. The judgment also includes a permanent injunction prohibiting Cathedral Canyon from violating the county’s mobile home rent control program.

The consumer protection lawsuit alleged that the park owners violated a 2003 court order requiring them to come into compliance with the rent control program, revise or cancel the leases of specified tenants in the park, and pay rent credits to specified tenants for rents collected in excess of those allowed by rent control.

Deputy District Attorney Matthew Cheever was the prosecutor assigned to the case, and was assisted by District Attorney Investigator Jim Shrum, Legal Secretary Jeannie Barnes, and Legal Assistant Susan Fogel.

Consumers in Sonoma County who believe they are the victim of fraud are urged to call the Environmental and Consumer Law Division of the Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office at (707) 565-2311 to file a complaint.