Attorney General Kris Mayes is taking legal action against the proprietors of Arizuma Country Estates in Apache Junction, following a severe power outage that left residents sweltering for five weeks during the summer of 2024. In a statement, Mayes called the incident "an alarming example of a park owners' indifference to the health and safety of their residents," as mentioned on the Arizona Attorney General's Office. The power failure, which began on July 22, 2024, was triggered by an overloaded electrical panel that caught fire, subsequently leaving individuals, mostly residing in RVs and park model homes, in perilously hot conditions without electricity.
The lawsuit, as reported by the Arizona Attorney General's Office, asserts that the defendants violated the Arizona Consumer Fraud Act (ACFA) by misleading tenants about the reliability of the electrical system and the progress of repairs. As per the Attorney General, the inaction of the landlords and their decision to not provide alternative sources of electricity were negligent acts, especially when record-breaking summer heat put their tenants at risk. Compounding the situation, the park's operators, Donald R. Thonger and Lyn M. Thonger, were accused of leaving the country during the outage without empowering staff on-site to adequately address the escalating concerns.
This is not the first instance of Attorney General Mayes clamping down on negligent landlords. The action against Arizuma Country Estates follows closely behind a similar lawsuit filed last month against the operators of Redwood Mobile Home Park in Tucson, where residents have grappled with repeated power outages. The Arizona Attorney General's office emphasizes this series of lawsuits as a stern warning to landlords to fulfill their obligations to tenants and to comply with legal standards for residential services.
"My message to landlords is this: live up to the promises you've made to your tenants when renting to them and follow the law," Mayes stated as per the Arizona Attorney General's Office website. The consequences, as exemplified by the recent actions, are clear: landlords who fail to ensure reliable services and to mitigate foreseeable disruptions can expect to be held accountable. Individuals who believe they have been victims of consumer fraud or unfair practices are encouraged to file a complaint through the Attorney General’s website, or to contact their office for assistance in Phoenix, Tucson, or other areas outside the metro zones.
For those seeking more details or to view the complaint, a copy is available through the Arizona Attorney General's office online platform.
