INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana's attorney general finalized a settlement with the former operator of the I-70 Mobile Home Park, which forced residents out of their homes in 2019 with no way to legally move them because they were never given titles.
Under a consent agreement announced Tuesday, Blue Lake Inc. is prohibited from failing to deliver titles in violation of the Indiana Deceptive Consumer Sales Act and from taking assets from a senior consumer in violation of the Senior Consumer Protection Act.
The agreement with Attorney General Curtis Hill's office also includes a suspended judgment of $29,000. Under the agreement, Blue Lake Inc. did not have to admit to violating any laws.
“With this settlement, we have concluded a case in which we obtained a measure of justice for dozens of our fellow Hoosiers who were left in a frightening predicament through no fault of their own,” Hill said in a news release.
I-70 Mobile Home Park residents learned in late August 2019 they would have to leave the property by Oct. 15, 2019. The eviction was stopped following a series of reports by WRTV.
The attorney general's office issued a restraining order against Blue Lakes Inc., which halted the notice to vacate until each resident either received payment for their unmovable mobile homes or the vehicle title to their mobile home.
During its investigation, Hill's office learned dozens of residents never received titles to their mobile homes, which forced people to abandon their homes as they were unable to legally move them.
In January 2020, residents who still lived at the I-70 Mobile Home Park when Hill's office filed suit received checks ranging from $1,200-$3,000 for a total of more than $51,000.
Residents had to leave the park by Feb. 21, 2020 before it permanently closed.
TIMELINE
- Aug. 22, 2019: Mobile home park residents want answers after they're told they will have to leave
- Aug. 23, 2019: Indianapolis mobile home park repairs blamed for evictions, but are not mandatory
- Aug. 27, 2019: Indianapolis mobile home park residents forced to move out get answers from local attorney
- Sept. 4, 2019: Indianapolis mobile home park residents receive assistance from community
- Oct. 9, 2019: Indiana Attorney General files lawsuit following RTV6 report on I-70 mobile home park
- Oct. 10, 2019: Judge grants temporary restraining order on I-70 mobile home park that was forcing people from homes
- Nov. 11, 2019: I-70 Mobile Home Park residents waiting for answers from court hearing from Indiana AG lawsuit
- Nov. 12, 2019: Agreement reached between Indiana Attorney General and I-70 Mobile Home Park owners
- Nov. 27, 2019: 'Roller coaster ride' continues for I-70 Mobile Home Park residents
- Jan. 16, 2020: I-70 Mobile Home Park residents raise health and safety concerns
- Jan. 21, 2020: Proposed bill could help protect Indiana mobile home park residents
- Jan. 30, 2020: I-70 Mobile Home Park residents being forced from their homes receive payment from AG's office
- Jan. 31, 2020: Payment from AG's office provides new beginning for I-70 Mobile Home Park residents
