Cameron

FACTS

Cameron moved into an apartment located at 6907 Bonita Terrace in Los Angeles in 1964. In 2003, LOP purchased Las Orchidias, the nine-unit apartment complex in which Cameron’s apartment was located, for $2.4 million. Cameron’s apartment and the other units in the complex were rent-stabilized. Jon Padgett and Mark Howell were the controlling members of LOP. About two years after LOP purchased Las Orchidias, Padgett came to Cameron’s door with a large dog and knocked loudly. When she opened the door he said “I want your unit.” He did not greet her, he just said, “I want your unit.” Cameron had “a real sense of -- anxiety, if not downright fear at that time.” She did not know what to say. Cameron invited Padgett in. He offered to pay her $25,000 to leave her apartment. Cameron declined. She said, “I don’t really care what you offer me, I don’t want to move. I like it here. I love it here. It’s home. I’ve been here many years. And, you know, I don’t want to leave.”

2 Cameron’s heart was pounding. She testified, “I did not want to leave, and I was afraid.” On January 20, 2015, Padgett filed a Notice of Intent to Withdraw Units From Rental Housing Use under the Ellis Act with…