A Faulkner County circuit judge granted a temporary injunction Monday against the owners of a Conway mobile home park accused of shutting off water to drive out residents.
The order, granted by Judge Susan Weaver, was the latest in a consumer-protection action filed Friday by Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge against Diamond K Investments Inc. and its owner, Bruce Keathley.
The temporary injunction said the defendants engaged in a "self-help eviction" at Brookside Village Mobile Home Community by shutting off tenants' access to running water. The injunction describes the action as "unconscionable" and a violation of the Arkansas Deceptive Trade Practices Act.
In the injunction, Keathley and Diamond K Investments, which own the mobile home park, are ordered to reconnect the water to any households in Brookside Village and are forbidden from attempting to evict any of the park's residents.
"Today's action was a victory for Brookside residents with regard to water and sewer services, and it reinforces the legal process in place for tenants," Rutledge said in a written statement.
The attorney general's office wrote in its initial complaint that roughly six families continued to live on the premises "even though the summer temperatures are in excess of 90 degrees Fahrenheit."
In April, hundreds of residents were sent scrambling after they were told that the owners planned to shut down the 114-home facility June 30, citing utility rate increases.
Brookside Village owners reportedly threatened to shut off water to those who were behind on their rent but agreed to extend residents' tenancies to July 15, court documents show.
When the July 15 deadline arrived, the defendants shut off water to all remaining residents at the park, the attorney general's office said.
Danny Crabtree, attorney for Keathley and Diamond K Investments, did not return calls requesting comment.
Metro on 07/24/2019