FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Michael A. Undorf, Deputy Attorney General

Consumer Protection Unit

Phone: (302) 577-8924

Date: October 18, 2002

(Wilmington, DE): Attorney General M. Jane Brady announces that her Consumer Protection Unit has entered into a Stipulation and Consent Order to Cease and Desist with Wilmington landlord, Adolph J. Pokorny. Judge Alex Smalls of the Court of Common Pleas signed the order that requires Pokorny to:

• Pay restitution to tenants named in the State's suit;
• Cease and desist from failing to supply heat to rental units;
• Cease and desist from engaging in retaliatory evictions or other retaliatory acts against tenants who complain in good faith to Pokorny or enforcement authorities;
• Comply with all applicable provisions of any state or local statute, code, regulation or ordinance governing the maintenance, construction, use or appearance of his rental properties;
• Provide rental units which do not endanger the health, welfare or safety of tenants. Units must be fit for the purpose for which they are expressly rented;
• Maintain all common areas of the rental properties;
• Repair and maintain rental units at the level required by law;
• Provide all tenants with a summary of the Landlord-Tenant Code;

Tenants who are due restitution will be contacted by the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Unit staff.

Attorney General Brady commented, "I'm very pleased with the terms of this Consent Order. I trust in the future that Mr. Pokorny will take his tenant's concerns seriously without the need for State intervention, but we stand ready to assist tenants if necessary."

Rashida Jenkins, a former tenant of Pokorny who will receive restitution under this agreement is, "pleased with the settlement," but added that she is, "glad I'm not still a tenant of his."

Christopher Bell, another former tenant said he was, "very happy with the resolution. This seems to be a penalty with some bite to it. I gave up on the hope of ever seeing my money from this landlord and this is like pennies from heaven. I know many tenants who can tell horror stories about this landlord. I hope that this order sends a message to Pokorny that the City of Wilmington is taking note of tenant complaints and the State is working to enforce the landlord-tenant code."

Pokorny was charged with violations of the Delaware Landlord Tenant Code, the Consumer Fraud Act and the Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act. The Stipulation and Consent Order to Cease and Desist was entered in the Court of Common Pleas as a result of Pokorny's appeal after a ruling in favor of the State in the Justice of the Peace Court. In addition to restitution, Pokorny is ordered to pay civil penalties, costs and attorneys fees.