RI Attorney General Takes Action Against Landlord for Lead Violations and Tenant Endangerment

Rhode Island Attorney General and Health Department Director have filed a civil lawsuit against Pioneer LLC and its owner, Anurag Sureka, for repeatedly allowing his properties to fall into illegal disrepair resulting in at least five children being lead poisoned. The landlord owns 175 residential units across Rhode Island, and state leaders allege the company has shown a pattern of violations and “failure to adhere to proper lead hazard mitigation and notification and maintenance code compliance.” Reclaim RI, an advocacy group that’s led efforts to raise awareness around the living conditions at Pioneer properties, lauded the state’s decision to sue the landlord.