Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 06/22/05

Contact person(s):

District Attorney, Stephan Passalacqua — (707) 565-2311 Media Coordinator, Donna Edwards — (707) 565-3099 Deputy District Attorney Maria Leftwich — (707) 565-2311 Deputy District Attorney Matt Cheever — (707) 565-2311

Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California

SONOMA COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY FILES UNFAIR COMPETITION CASE AGAINST MOBILE HOME PARK OWNER FOR RENT CONTROL VIOLATIONS

Sonoma County District Attorney Stephan Passalacqua filed a consumer protection lawsuit today in Sonoma County Superior Court against George Mekjian, the owner of Seven Flags of Sonoma mobile home park in Sonoma, California.

The complaint alleges that Mekjian violated a 2003 court order requiring him to 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 the County of Sonoma Mobile Home Park Space Rent Stabilization Program.

The lawsuit seeks restitution for victims, over $500,000 in civil penalties, additional penalties of $100,000 for transactions involving senior citizens, and an injunction.

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

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