Local News in Brief : Landlord Convicted of Health Violations

A Los Angeles Municipal Court jury convicted a Sherman Oaks man of misdemeanor health and safety violations for keeping two Los Angeles properties in slum-like condition.

Robert Wayne Morrison, 59, was convicted Monday of five violations of the California Health and Safety Code for faulty plumbing, maintaining a property in disrepair and allowing vermin, said Deputy City Atty. Vivienne Swanigan. Morrison had originally been charged with 10 counts, but after deliberating 2 1/2 days the jury deadlocked on five charges, Swanigan said.

In response to tenant and neighbor complaints, county health officials inspected Morrison’s six-unit apartment building in the 800 block of Laguna Avenue and a single-family house in the 11200 block of South Towne Avenue, in August and September, 1986, Swanigan said. The buildings were infested with cockroaches and rats and had faulty plumbing, she said.

Morrison said his tenants’ leases made them responsible for repairs, Swanigan said, noting that such contracts are illegal.

Morrison owns 25 other properties, including apartments in Van Nuys, East Los Angeles and South-Central Los Angeles, Swanigan said. He has three previous convictions for allowing slum-like conditions in his buildings.

Morrison, who is free on bail, will be sentenced Aug. 22. He faces up to two years in County Jail, Swanigan said.