By: Estella Shylock
For nearly three years, the neighbors living in Granada Hills, a suburb just outside of LA, had to look at a substantial trash buildup outside one particular home. The situation was so dire that a stream of complaints poured into the LAPD, the LA Fire Department, and the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety.
Not only was the homeowner a hoarder, but others from across the San Fernando Valley region would also dump trash or ravage through the junk that consumed the front yard, back yard, and interior of the home—that is, until Mark Adams, President of California Receivership Group, stepped in to propose a solution.
While the judicial system was failing the community, the home and its owner were becoming infamous, with regular features on the local news. But for those living in this quiet, bedroom community, LA County’s Hoarder House had become a living nightmare.
LA City workers were sent to the home in November 2022. At one point, the City cleared over 20,000 pounds of trash just from the front yard at a cost of $12,000 in public funds authorized by Councilman John Lee. But this remedy didn’t last long, as the homeowner’s son continued to collect junk. The City of LA declined to have further trash and debris removed due to costs and the possibility of a lawsuit. Their only solution offered was to write a misdemeanor ticket, charging the homeowner with illegally dumping trash and junk in a yard.
How Receivership Works
A receiver can be used in business, real estate, or family wealth distribution to handle the real estate property, finances, or other assets of an entity deemed unable to do so by the judicial system. Receivership can also be used by municipalities to address health and safety issues that have resisted resolution through code enforcement.
Receiver Mark Adams was so incensed about the City of Los Angeles’ failure to protect the neighbors and community around this nuisance property that he contacted a local reporter. The reporter interviewed him and some of the neighbors, and Mr. Adams explained how the health and safety receivership remedy could potentially resolve such issues. This interview was pivotal in encouraging the County of Los Angeles to do what the City had failed to accomplish.
Mark Adams, President of California Receivership Group, saw this as an opportunity to assist the community. When appointed as a Receiver, Mark Adams often works to ensure that the property owner, not the taxpayer, covers any costs associated with health and safety receivership abatement work. Instead of communities being held hostage by an unsympathetic neighbor and a broken judicial system, his company takes steps to address the most challenging public nuisance complaints. In many cases, Receiver Mark Adams is present during the court trial against any offender as the violations are documented, and a judgment is delivered to issue a nuisance abatement lien against the property. These judgments typically precede any existing debt collections connected with the property.
A Win for the Community
In the case of the infamous Hoarder House in Granada Hills, Mark Adams’ goal was to clean up the nuisance property and remove the dangers it presented to the community. The County’s involvement was key to the resolution of the issue. A lawsuit threat from LA County resulted in the property being cleared of all trash and junk, and the four-bedroom home was sold for $800,000 in 2023.
The home’s appearance on television and coverage on CBS News grabbed the attention of Councilman John Lee, who represents Granada Hills, and he admitted that the system had failed the neighbors. It was Receiver Mark Adams and County attorneys who were successful in bringing an end to this constant community eyesore, even without a formal receivership appointment.
The possibility of receivership appears to have influenced the property owner’s decision to finally sell the problematic property. Today, the property is free of roaches, rats, loitering, threatening behavior, and the public safety issues that resulted from hoarding.
Disclaimer: The content in this article is provided for general knowledge. It does not constitute legal advice, and readers should seek advice from qualified legal professionals regarding particular cases or situations.
Published by: Nelly Chavez
