A judge Monday issued a tentative ruling dismissing a lawsuit by a black tenant of a Donald Sterling-owned apartment building, alleging the ex-Los Angeles Clippers owner refused to eradicate bedbugs from the plaintiff’s unit because of his race.
Attorneys for Sterling maintained that Darryl Williams’ lawsuit is so vague that it does not even specify to whom the allegations are directed or the dates any of the alleged actions occurred.
In his preliminary decision, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Rolf M. Treu found that the entire complaint is “fatally uncertain in nature” and “merely provides a garble of conclusory statements about various statutory violations.”
Treu also noted that Williams had reached a previous agreement in litigation with Sterling regarding the plaintiff’s tenancy.
“This stipulated judgment concerned the very same series of occurrences,” according to Treu.
The judge is scheduled to hear arguments Tuesday before issuing a final ruling.
Williams sued Sterling last November, alleging violations of fair housing and civil rights laws. Williams, who lives at the Reno Country Club apartments, alleges Sterling hired exterminators to get rid of bedbugs in units on both sides of his apartment, but did not have his unit treated.
