My wife and I are middle aged; I am a 100% DAV. We relocated to Biloxi from Ackerman so I would be close to the VA hospital which I prefer. We moved to Biloxi in the middle of August.
We chose the Pines On The Bay Apartments because it was only two blocks from Virginia's new job [I am medically retired! ] In addition, it is only two miles from the Biloxi VAMC.
We had already signed a one year lease before we got into Biloxi. Upon arrival, I learned that, not only was the apartment on the second floor, it was, also, on the rear of the building. [This didn't suit me because I can hardly walk over 100 feet without pain welling up in my lower leg. I am an insulin-dependent diabetic with advanced retinopathy, have had two minor strokes, one heart attack, one carotid artery surgery, and, now, have re-injured my back! ]
After three months, I demanded a handicap parking space close to the walkway to the rear of the building. Even though I got the parking space, which I knew I would, the attitude of the management soured on us. Virginia and I became personas non grata, though we did not circulate among other residents, bad-mouthing the comples [we took our complaints directly to the person who is paid to listen to such, Amanda Williams].
Virginia did complain to Amanda Williams about dog feces left on the grounds [against their policy], scum in the hot tub in the clubhouse [against rules of cleanliness], failure of the pool to be opened at the specified time [again, their policy], and residents parking in our parking space.
Even though I, a former electrical contractor who lost the business, home, and was in debt when I became so ill that I could no longer work [and paying off some debts monthly], always paid my rent on time, I received a notice that Pines On The Bay Apartments was refusing to renew our lease. We followed all rules too!
Notice that I state that I always paid my rent on time, and we always followed their rules. And we took our complaints to the person who is supposed to receive such!
We have another two years of paying old bills before our budget won't be so tight; so we don't have money sitting in a savings account. But, as told to me by Carol Lacrosse of Sun States Management [Amanda William's boss], the reason Amanda refused to renew our lease was because we complained about the management of the complex. But she was the one who we were supposed to take our complaints to, or were we not supposed to complain?
Furthermore, the phantom of the Bay let the air out of one of Virginia's tires. It could not be balanced because that broke something and I had to buy another set of tires much sooner than I had planned.
In addition, the phantom of the Bay came into our locked apartment, while I was there [but I am legally blind and can't identify him]. He must have had a key, huh?
Again, the phantom of the Bay stole some oxycodone pain pills from me! Ironically, I had just had the commode in my bathroom worked on by their maintenance man.
Had I suspected that I would have to have money available with which to make a move, I would have been very happy to get away from that place. But, we had always paid our bills on time, never violated their rules, always took all complaints to the proper person, but that didn't protect us from any penalties!
In view of the fact that it is easily demonstrated that our trouble started with my demands for a handicap parking space, I believe that I have been discriminated against in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act; and I plan to have a recovery suit filed in Federal Court against Pines On The Bay, Sun States Management, and Amanda Williams [personally].
Jim
Gautier, Missouri
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