Yuba City apartment owners pay settlement to family of former disabled resident trapped in apartment
The owners of a Yuba City apartment complex are paying a $105,000 settlement to the family of a former tenant who was allegedly often trapped in her apartment due to broken elevators.
The settlement check, which comes with a series of policy changes, follows a 2022 lawsuit filed by the California Civil Rights Department against the owners of the Sutter Village apartment complex, according to a department news release Tuesday.
Katy Willis, who in 2022 was a quadriplegic tenant at the complex, filed a civil rights complaint with the state alleging the conditions at the complex were dangerous for disabled residents. Willis, who used a wheelchair, alleged management did not allow her to move from the third to the first floor, leaving her stuck in her apartment during frequent elevator outages. Willis dealt with the situation for years on and off, missing church, physical therapy, support group and other events, the release stated. She died in 2023.
State and federal fair housing laws require property owners to accommodate individuals with disabilities.
In addition to the payment, the settlement requires the owners train staff on state anti-discrimination protections, adopt policies to ensure regular maintenance of elevators at all properties across California, and develop an emergency evacuation plan, the release stated.
The complex since 2018 has been owned by SUV Affordable Limited Partnership, which still remains the owner, the Sutter County Assessor’s Office said Tuesday.
In addition to SUV Affordable Limited Partnership, the state named AWI Management Corp. That business is based in Sacramento, according to a January Secretary of State filing. It was formerly based in Auburn. AWI manages apartment complexes across California, including one in Rio Linda, and six in West Sacramento, according to its website.
Representatives from AWI Management Corp., SUV Affordable LP and their attorneys did not immediately return calls Tuesday seeking comment on the settlement.
“Nobody should ever be trapped in their home because of repeated accommodation denials and maintenance failures,” California Civil Rights Department Director Kevin Kish said in a news release. “Plain and simple: That is a form of disability discrimination. It does not have to be intentional to cause harm. I am grateful for the courage of people like Ms. Willis who come forward and speak out — not just for themselves, but also for the people around them. This settlement will help make a lasting difference for elderly and disabled tenants across California.”
Elevator issues have been a problem for seniors living on high floors of buildings in the region before. A group of elderly and disabled seniors who lived at the now-closed single room occupancy Capital Park Hotel dealt with broken elevators frequently, they told The Sacramento Bee in 2019. Mercy Housing did a major renovation on the old building and reopened it as permanent homeless housing last month.
This story was originally published February 11, 2025 at 2:33 PM.
