Rutherford fights lawsuit





A lawsuit that identifies Westlake Village Mayor Mark Rutherford for his role in the ownership of an allegedly poorly maintained mobile home park was continued to Dec. 19 by a Los Angeles judge.

Residents of Wildwood Mobile Home Country Club, a 456- home development in Hacienda Heights, own their mobile homes, but they lease their land from the local Westmont Corp.

Rutherford’s wife, Gay, and her siblings inherited

Westmont Corp. from their parents.

The lawsuit, filed last May in LosAngeles County Superior Court by more than 80 mobile home park residents, describes a litany of troubles, including allegations of racial prejudice against Hispanics, sexual ha- rassment, invasion of privacy and property damage due to negligence.

In a statement to The Acorn, Rutherford, a professional arbitrator, said his wife’s family has owned the park for more than 30 years and has taken pride in its maintenance.

“The plaintiffs in this lawsuit are trying to create pressure through the media and not the courts to justify their allegations,” Rutherford said.

“As with any community, the park’s rules and regulations are there to maintain a healthy and safe environment for the residents.”

Other defendants include park managers and employees, two security companies and a towing company.

According to the complaint filed by Attorney Steven Haney, “Westmont has substantially failed to maintain the common areas, facilities, services and physical improvements in good working order and conditions, and has reduced services available to residents.”

Concerns about arbitrary enforcement of rules, discrimination against Spanish-speaking residents, unfair towing practices and cash bribes by a towing contractor for the release of vehicles—along with interference with the sale of homes to force some homeowners into foreclosure—were listed in the complaint.

In addition, amenities such as an exercise room, a swimming pool and sauna, and a billiards room have been closed for an extended period.

Residents say they made numerous complaints to the onsite manager as well as Rutherford and Westmont Corp. about the deterioration of the facilities, but that no corrections were made.

They also say Westmont Corp. impeded home sales by failing to approve qualified buyers and refusing to show homes to prospective buyers unless they used a certain real estate agent for the transaction.

“It’s bad, it’s really bad. They want us out, but we’re going to stay,” said David Penilla who moved to the park over a year ago.

Penilla said he and his family have been harassed by management and by the owner of the security company that works for the park.

“We wake up every day with harassment. We don’t like going home,” he said.

Rutherford was named in the lawsuit because he has been involved in discussions relating to the grievances.

The complaints include issues with insufficient water services, sewage odors, inadequate lighting, poor street conditions and lack of maintenance of the gas and electrical delivery systems within the park, along with overcharges for utilities and water.

A lawn abutting railroad tracks that is used by children as a play area is not fenced and is dangerous, the lawsuit said.

“The management disregards safety and demonstrates a lack of concern for residents’ needs. The rundown appearance, park stigma and bad reputation has affected home values and sales,” the court document states.

The suit also alleges a discriminatory parking permit system at the mobile home park.

Tucked between the 60 Freeway and a railroad track in the San Gabriel Valley, Wildwood is home to more than 1,500 residents, many of them Hispanic.

Homeowner Lynn Huestis said the grievances are unwarranted and do not represent the sentiments of most residents.

“In the 10 years I’ve lived here, there is nothing going on in this park that shows me there should be any kind of litigation,” Huestis said.

When people buy mobile homes, they agree to abide by the rules designed to keep the community clean and safe for everyone.

“If (some) feel that they’re being picked on, maybe they’re not following the rules,” Huestis told The Acorn, adding that Mark and Gay Rutherford are good property owners who have spent freely to maintain the park.

“They have an open door policy. They’re not slumlords. When something goes wrong here, they fix it and take care of it,” the resident said.

Caesar Salas, who has lived at Wildwood for eight years, said he never felt prejudice from the park owners or manager.

“I’ve seen some of the stuff they’re complaining about, and there is nothing wrong. They’re making stuff up,” Salas said.

Lynn White, who has lived in Wildwood for 30 years, said the plaintiffs and their attorney “have delusions of dollars.”

Defense lawyers for Westmont Corp. requested the Wildwood case go to arbitration. At an Oct. 22 hearing to determine arbitration, the case was continued until December.

Haney said Rutherford is trying to force arbitration so he can compel each plaintiff to file a separate case and “brush the bad conduct under the rug.”

While Rutherford takes pride in Westlake Village, he doesn’t do the same for his investment property, the plaintiffs’ attorney said.

“It could be a nice park, but he’s not willing to put money into it. He’s basically turned the place into a slum,” Haney said.

The San Jose Mercury News reported that earlier this year a jury awarded $111 million to residents of a trailer park called California Hawaiian Mobile Estates, and said the owner failed to maintain the property and provide sufficient security.



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