Attorney General Todd Rokita takes action against Marshall County landlord
Attorney General Todd Rokita has filed a lawsuit against a corporate landlord over alleged failure to repair and maintain an apartment complex in Plymouth, Indiana.
The lawsuit alleges that RICH-MONS Group LLC committed multiple violations of Indiana’s Deceptive Consumer Sales Act in connection with failures to properly maintain The Pointe Apartments.
“Tenants who pay their rent deserve the protection of the law,” Attorney General Rokita said. “Our legislature has made it clear that a landlord must maintain major systems in a leased property. Demanding rent from tenants while they are exposed to water intrusion, toxic mold, and dangerous electrical wiring is simply wrong.”
The lawsuit — filed by Attorney General Rokita’s Consumer Protection Division through its Homeowner Protection Unit — alleges that following an inspection by the City of Plymouth Building Commissioner Dennis Manuwal, Jr., approximately 20 residents were displaced and ordered to immediately evacuate the building. The inspection is alleged to have uncovered various roof leaks, visible black mold, and other unsafe conditions. The owner was also ordered to have a registered electrician perform an analysis of the electrical system. That electrician’s report noted open junction boxes, live wires hanging from boxes, gas lines with live amperage, and other fixtures with live voltage or amperage.
The lawsuit demands a jury trial, costs of prosecution, and other damages against the defendants for multiple violations of the Deceptive Consumer Sales Act.
The mission of the Homeowner Protection Unit is to protect the rights of all individuals involved in the housing market, including tenants, homeowners, and aspiring homeowners, by investigating and redressing deceptive acts in connection with mortgage lending and violations of relevant state and federal laws.
The unit strives to ensure equal access to housing opportunities for Hoosiers and promote the proper functioning of homeowner's associations. It works closely with law enforcement agencies at all levels to ensure justice is served and homeowners and tenants are protected.
Hoosiers are encouraged to contact the Office of the Indiana Attorney General about any suspected scams or scam attempts.
Consumers can file a complaint by visiting indianaconsumer.com or calling 1-800-382-5516.
The filed complaint is attached.
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Attorney General Todd Rokita defends states’ authority to ban sex-change procedures for minors; co-leads 22-state brief to US Supreme Court
Attorney General Todd Rokita is taking action to protect states’ authority to prohibit sex-change procedures from being performed on minors — co-leading a 22-state brief to the U.S. Supreme Court aimed at thwarting the Biden-Harris administration’s efforts to override state laws.
“The Biden-Harris administration will stop at nothing to impose its radical transgender ideology on all Americans,” Attorney General Rokita said. “But Hoosiers elect state lawmakers to represent their values, and the Indiana General Assembly has passed a law forbidding medical practitioners from performing surgery or administering drugs to children under 18 to ‘transition’ them to live as members of the opposite sex.”
In the amicus brief, the attorneys general support the State of Tennessee’s authority to enforce a law that — similar to Indiana’s — prohibits medical interventions before age 18 intended to alter boys’ or girls’ physical appearances so that they resemble members of the opposite sex.
“The Constitution leaves to states the right to make decisions about how best to protect children from unproven and risky interventions,” Attorney General Rokita said. “Here in Indiana, we have laws rooted in common sense, compassion and science.”
That lack of authority did not prevent the federal government from supporting a lawsuit against Tennessee that erroneously claims the Tennessee law violates the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.
“Nothing in passing the Fourteenth Amendment,” the amicus brief states,” remotely suggests that the Equal Protection Clause was meant to override the States’ traditional role in regulating medicine.”
Joining Attorney General Rokita in leading the amicus brief are the attorneys general of Arkansas and Kentucky.
“In our federalist system,” the brief further observes, “the States get to decide within their borders what interventions are available for boys and girls suffering from gender dysphoria. Tennessee gets to decide that using puberty blockers and hormones . . . is not sufficiently safe or beneficial — that long-term it will do more harm than good. No equal-protection challenge can change that.”
The amicus brief led by Indiana, Kentucky and Arkansas can be viewed here.
Attorney General Todd Rokita remains vigilant against ‘sanctuary cities’ by warning local officials not to ignore state laws
Attorney General Todd Rokita cautioned local officials in Lake and St. Joseph counties that he will pursue legal action against them after November 8 if they refuse to follow state laws that prohibit local entities from restricting immigration enforcement activities and communications with federal immigration authorities.
“Illegal aliens coming across our unprotected Southern border for the last four years have caused a jump in crime, fentanyl overdoses, human trafficking, and an increased financial burden on state and local programs,” Attorney General Rokita said. “Hardworking Hoosiers are sick and tired of paying the price for this left-wing nonsense, and our office will not back down from enforcing state law.”
A "sanctuary city" is a local unit of government that has implemented a policy that deliberately and intentionally restricts and obstructs the enforcement of federal immigration laws.
The Indiana General Assembly passed a law this year authorizing the attorney general to file lawsuits against any Indiana colleges, universities, or units of local government that do not comply with the Indiana ban on sanctuary cities.
Attorney General Rokita has heard from constituents about the problems caused by mass migration into areas like Lake and St. Joseph counties. His efforts to combat sanctuary cities are an important way to address these problems.
“Everyone should have the freedom and opportunity to succeed and attain a better life,” Attorney General Rokita said. “We welcome migrants to the United States who show they are thankful to be here by entering our country legally and following our laws. Simply put, if you do not follow our laws, you should not be allowed to stay.”
Attorney General Rokita has sent letters to officials in Lake and St. Joseph counties warning them of impending legal action if they do not come into compliance with Indiana law.
Attorney General Rokita also sent letters to officials in the cities of East Chicago, West Lafayette and Monroe County. East Chicago and West Lafayette changed their policy to comply with state law. Our office is pursuing legal action in court against Monroe County.
We continue to evaluate other local governments and will take action as warranted to ensure compliance with state law.
The letters sent to Lake County and St. Joseph County officials are attached.
Do Seymour and South Bend have ‘sanctuary city’ policies?
Attorney General Todd Rokita is getting answers
Amid ongoing concerns from community members and elected officials, Attorney General Todd Rokita has issued civil investigative demands (CID) to the Seymour and South Bend police departments seeking information on whether their immigration policies comply with state law.
“We are working to ensure units of local government are following the law,” Attorney General Rokita said. “We are putting Hoosiers first – not illegal aliens.
In the CID, Attorney General Rokita states his office is asking for information regarding both police departments’ immigration-related communications, cooperation and enforcement policies.
Indiana law limits the attorney general to investigating and enforcing local government entities that have policies that restrict or limit communication or cooperation with federal immigration authorities or the enforcement of federal immigration law.
Attorney General Rokita has instructed Seymour and South Bend police to produce all documents responsive to his inquiry by November 8, 2024.
“A failure to comply with the CID may result in legal action,” Attorney General Rokita said. “If the documents produced show that either police department has unlawful immigration policies on the books, we will take action as warranted to ensure compliance with state law.”
On top of issuing the CIDs, Attorney General Rokita is currently suing the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department for its refusal to rescind its unlawful immigration policies and recently sent demand letters to officials in Lake and St. Joseph counties warning them of impending legal action if they fail to come into compliance with state law.
Earlier this year, Attorney General Rokita sent similar letters to officials in the cities of East Chicago, Gary, and West Lafayette, which all worked to rescind their unlawful immigration policies to comply with state law after receiving these communications.
Attorney General Rokita said his office will continue to evaluate other local governments.
The CIDs sent to Seymour and South Bend police departments are attached.
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Attorney General Todd Rokita and Secretary of State Diego Morales seek verification that Indiana voters are U.S. citizens
Attorney General Todd Rokita and Secretary of State Diego Morales are asking the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to verify the citizenship status of voters who registered in Indiana without providing state-issued forms of identification.
“Hoosiers deserve to know that only eligible voters are participating in our elections and that legitimate ballots are not being diluted by noncitizens,” Attorney General Rokita said. “We are doing our part to provide this assurance.”
Attorney General Rokita and Secretary Morales sent USCIS Director Ur M. Jaddou lists of certain voters who registered without state IDs — along with a joint letter formally requesting the agency’s assistance in verifying those individuals’ citizenship status.
“A fair and secure election process begins with accurate voter information,” said Secretary Morales. “As Indiana's Chief Election Officer, I am committed to ensuring that every registered voter in Indiana has met the legal requirements, including being a U.S. citizen. I’m proud to partner with Indiana’s Attorney General in taking proactive steps to gather missing information for those who completed their registration without a state-issued ID. This is crucial to maintaining the integrity of our elections and increasing public confidence. Only U.S. Citizens can vote in Indiana. Period.”
Federal law requires USCIS to respond to inquiries from state government agencies “to verify or ascertain the citizenship or immigration status of any individual within the jurisdiction of the agency for any purpose authorized by law.”
The letter is attached.
As part of a multistate coalition, Attorney General Rokita is also pressing federal authorities in another letter to provide a plan for how they will verify voters’ U.S. citizenship status in response to state requests. Ohio and South Carolina are leading that effort.
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