Apartment tenants sue landlords, alleging dangerous conditions

A woman and her child are suing after their landlords allegedly allowed dangerous living conditions to exist in their apartment.

Michelle Digiacomo, individually and as the mother and next-of-friend to her minor child, filed a lawsuit Dec. 10 in the Cook County Circuit Court against Michael McCallum and Becky McCallum, citing negligence.

According to the complaint, Digiacomo and her child lived in an apartment at 3756 N. Bell Ave. in Chicago from August 2009 until November 2012, during which time the defendants served as the property's landlord.

While residents, the plaintiffs claim there were unreasonably dangerous living conditions at the apartment, including structural deterioration, leaks, condensation and seepage that developed into dangerous levels of bacteria, as well as the presence of lead-based paints, accumulations of dust in the furnace blower and unhealthy airborne circulation of particulates in the living area.

The plaintiffs are seeking more than $50,000 in damages and are being represented by Aaron W. Rapier of The Collins Law Firm P.C.

Cook County Circuit Court Case No. 2013L013938.

This is a report on a civil lawsuit filed at the Cook County Courthouse. The details in this report come from an original complaint filed by a plaintiff. Please note that a complaint represents an accusation by a private individual, not the government. It is not an indication of guilt, and it represents only one side of the story.