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Bucks DA files civil action against alleged slumlords

The property, on the 100 block of South Main Street in Dublin Borough, was condemned on April 13 and six tenants were effectively evicted, but have since been relocated with help from Bucks County.

The property, on the 100 block of South Main Street in Dublin Borough, was condemned on April 13 and six tenants were effectively evicted, but have since been relocated with help from Bucks County.
The property, on the 100 block of South Main Street in Dublin Borough, was condemned on April 13 and six tenants were effectively evicted, but have since been relocated with help from Bucks County.Read moreBucks County District Attorney's Office

Bucks County District Attorney Joe Khan on Monday announced he had filed a civil enforcement action against the owners of a multi-unit residential property after the residents were forced to leave because the building had been condemned because of alleged life-threatening conditions.

The property, on the 100 block of South Main Street in Dublin Borough, was condemned on April 13 and six tenants were effectively evicted, Khan said. The Bucks County Human Services Division and members of the Bucks County Co-Responder Program helped to secure replacement housing for the tenants.

Khan said his office filed the civil complaint in Common Pleas Court using the Pennsylvania Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law to hold the landlords accountable.

The complaint names Richard Goetter, Ronald Goetter, and their fictitious business entity, R & R Enterprises, as defendants. Neither of the men could be reached for comment Monday night.

The lawsuit alleges that the defendants operated a business model that profited by forcing vulnerable, low-income tenants to choose between staying in unsafe housing or facing homelessness, Khan said.

An investigation allegedly found that tenants did not have working heat for years, forcing them to rely on their own portable electric heaters plugged into unreliable electrical wiring that created fire hazards.

The building allegedly had black mold in the community bathroom, a large piece of plywood covering a hole in the floor of one of the bathrooms, rodent and cockroach infestations, and the overwhelming odor of human waste, Khan said.

“Tenants have a legal right to basic safety, and our office will stand up to seek justice for those who have been mistreated, especially victims who are elderly, disabled, or otherwise vulnerable to exploitation,” Khan said.