Los Angeles City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto filed a civil action against the owner of an eight-unit apartment complex for allegedly violating state and local tenant protections by trying to force out tenants in an effort to obtain higher rents, officials announced Wednesday.
The Los Angeles County Superior Court suit targets Femi Olanipekun, who serves as landlord and property manager of the complex, located at 4301 Woodlawn Ave. and 120 E. 43rd St. The lawsuit may be amended in the future if more individuals are identified in this case.
The city’s lawsuit alleges that on Oct. 29, 2025 — just five days after purchasing the apartment complex — the defendant demanded that all tenants vacate their units, without cause, no later than March 2026 in an effort to raise rents. The alleged actions violate the city’s Tenant Anti-Harassment Ordinance and the state’s Unfair Competition Law, according to the lawsuit.
Olanipekun could not be reached for comment.
“California and the city of Los Angeles have enacted tenant protection laws to ensure tenants can live in their homes free from harassment and unlawful eviction practices,” Feldstein Soto said in a statement. “The suit sends a clear message that my office will continue to enforce these laws and hold accountable landlords who violate tenants’ rights.”
City attorneys further alleged the property manager served tenants with eviction notices without just cause. When the tenants refused to leave, the defendant began to harass them with the goal of having them surrender their tenancies, according to the lawsuit.
The complaint also alleged that Olanipekun harassed the tenants by engaging in unlawful actions, including interrupting their water and waste disposal services, imposing new charges and fees, revoking tenants’ outdoor storage rights and discarding tenants’ personal property.
Additionally, the complaint alleged the defendant has pursued evictions based at least in part on his unlawful unilateral changes to tenant leases.
The City Attorney’s Office seeks to end the unlawful activities and may seek injunctive relief related to the alleged TAHO violations.
Under the city’s ordinance, each day that a violation continues is deemed to be a new and separate offense and can result in a civil penalty of $2,500 for each and every offense. The TAHO ordinance also allows plaintiffs to recovery punitive damages.
Under state law, city attorneys may seek injunctive relief, restitution and statutory penalties of up to $2,500 for each violation of the Unfair Competition Law.