Complaint Review: Public Response Office of las vegas - Las Vegas Nevada

On Dec 18th 2011, arson occurred at my house located at 4588 Sacks Drive Las Vegas, NV 89122. The fire burned parts of the hallway, bathroom and celling. On Jan 03, 2012 the damage assessment on site took place. The Building Division Inspector in charge, Brian Johnson, required the removal of all drywall in the affected area, in order to verify the damage and proceed with a Follow-up inspection. The area was posted as Unsafe/Red. Upon removing the burned drywall, I unsuccessfully tried to contact the inspector in charge, to proceed with the Follow- up inspection. Once a file is set up, the Building Division Inspector should contact the owner or representative to schedule the inspection. It did not happen. On April 13, 2012, I received a Notice and Order from the Building Division to obtain the permits on or before June 6, and complete the repair work on or before July 5, 2012. I contacted them regarding the content of this Notice, and I ask again to schedule the Follow- up Inspection. I find out that the inspector in charge was no longer working, and that a new inspector was going to be assigned. Finally, on June 11, Building Division Inspector John Hert calls me to let me know that the Follow-up inspection was going to take place the next day.

On June 12, 2012 the Follow-up Inspection was conducted. By then, all garbage from the fire has been eliminated, the front and backyard was complete cleaned up, and even the shrubs had been taken care of. Inspector John Hert noticed the progress and granted an extension of time to Dec 15, 2012 to obtain the permits and complete the repair works. He posted the area as Accessible/Green (no longer Unsafe/Red), he recommend the house to be inspected for asbestos. Can the Public Response officials have the power to modify the provision of the Clark County Codes specified in chapter 22.12? Chapter in which, Building Division Inspector John Hert based his report to declare my property Accessible/Green; which implies not dangerous, not unsafe, and not unsecure. On July 9, 2012 the Clark County Public Response Office (here after referred to as PRO) emitted a declaration of imminent danger. Ignoring and in total contradiction to the Building Division Follow-up Inspection Report. The argument for the declaration was the violation of nuisances that I have already voluntarily corrected. An additional charge was made, referred to criminal activity, and unlawful acts reported by Metro Police.

To date, no arrests have been made in my property Dated July 16, the PRO, sent me a notice of estimated cost to abate specially assessed to my property $17,931.00. Civil penalties accrued $10,000; further civil penalties may accrue up to the greater $10,000. Upon receiving this notice I visited inspector John Hert at the building department. He read the notice and said : This is not going to happen; they cannot do this to you. Then he contacted the PRO by phone to find out what was going on. From what I overheard during the conversation with PRO, I concluded that nothing could be done; my property was going to be abated no matter what. His inspection report of June 12, 2012 has been totally ignored. I preferred not to ask further questions. Was the asbestos inspection used as a better justification to abate my house? On July 26, PRO Officer Dean R. Massey visited me, to let me know that the inspection for asbestos prior to the demolition was going to take place the next week. In apparent use of power, he gave me the opportunity to obtain the permits during the next five days of the week, so as to stop the demolition of my property.

On July 30, the first day for asbestos check, contractor worker hired by PRO, destroyed and dumped in the back yard the entire kitchen and bathroom cabinets, sinks and fixtures, all fuse breakers of the main power box were gone. Did Officer Dean R. Massey forget the five days he gave me to obtain the permits and stop the demolition? On July 31, I personally delivered a letter asking to respect my civil rights and stop this abusive destruction of my property. On Aug. 6, 2012 my property was totally abated. The apparent reason for the abatement of my house. An erroneous Notice of Abatement from the Public Response Office of Southern Nevada. My mother and I owned for seven years a property that included a converted garage that did not comply with the building codes. The house was sold to H.S.B. C. Bank on Jan. 18, 2012.

 On February 16, 2012 the PRO sent us a Notice of Abatement. Since we no longer owned the house, we did not respond. The converted garage located at 5140 Sun Valley Dr. Las Vegas, NV 89122 was abated on April, 2012. Evidently, H.S.B.C. Bank was unaware of this Notice of Abatement and did not assume the cost of demolition. Who will then assume the cost of demolition? The contractor, the taxpayers, or us indirectly, through the cost of demolition of my house. The residential demolition cost ranges from $ 5 - $ 7 per square foot when the concrete foundation is not removed, and from $ 10 to $ 12 when it includes the basement and foundation. The demolition cost of the 740 sq. ft. converted garage, which included foundation, would be $ 8,880.00 The demolition of 1,269 sq. ft. on my house, whose foundations was not removed, would be $ 8,863.00 Considering the highest demolition cost on each on case, both properties will then total $. 17,743.00. The PRO estimated demolition cost of my House was $ 17,931.00. Is this cost a coincidence, or was this cost chosen so as to avoid a conflict of interest with the contractor. If you think I have a case, your legal advice will be appreciated.