$718K Collected by OBC & County Attorney From 
Evergreen Court Nursing Home

Fines Result of Failure to Clean & Secure Site 

New City, NY – County Executive Ed Day, County Attorney Thomas Humbach, and Office of Buildings & Codes Director Edward Markunas collected $718,000 in civil penalties from SPJJ LLC, related to longstanding building-code and safety violations at Evergreen Court Home for Adults Nursing Home, located at 65 Lafayette Street in Spring Valley, regarding the property owner failing to clean up and secure the site.

“It was bad enough that our community suffered the tragic loss of Firefighter Jared Lloyd and resident Oliver Heuston. For the property owner to then leave the site as a never-ending reminder and eyesore of that tragedy was simply unacceptable,” said County Executive Day. “I am proud that our Offices of Buildings and Codes and County Attorney Thomas Humbach worked relentlessly to hold the owner accountable and ensure this property was finally brought into compliance.”

The property—where the tragic fire claimed the lives of Firefighter Jared Lloyd and resident Oliver Heuston—was left as a dangerous, burned-out site that remained unsecured and being used by homeless individuals. The County obtained a court injunction ordering the landlord to clean and secure the property, which was ignored resulting in fines accumulating and a judgment placed against the property.

“The Office took decisive legal action to protect public safety,” said County Attorney Thomas Humbach.  “Attorneys Larraine Feiden and Scott Bejamin pressed the case in court and secured the penalties and the cleanup. Our efforts will deter future violations by the property owners and serve as an example of the consequences of code violations to others.”

The Court also ultimately issued a $36,000 contempt fine for failing to clean up the property by court deadlines, which the County is still working to collect, but the enforcement effort finally reached a turning point when the County initiated the auction process for the outstanding fines. Minutes before the property sale auction was set to begin, the owner paid the penalties, bringing the matter to resolution.

“Our inspectors and staff carried out extensive inspections, documentation, and coordination to ensure the property was brought into compliance and that responsible parties were held accountable,” explained Edward Markunas, Director of the Office of Buildings and Codes. “This outcome sends a clear message that building-code violations will not be tolerated and that the County will act decisively to protect public safety.”

“Let this serve as a clear message: when building codes are violated, there are real consequences. The County will pursue every case to the fullest extent of the law and collect every penny owed. Cutting corners and ignoring our safety standards will never be tolerated in Rockland County,” concluded Day.

Rockland County reminds residents any Building & Code violations within the Village of Spring Valley can be reported to the County Office of Buildings and Codes (OBC) at 845-364-3700 or emailing BuildingsAndCodes@co.rockland.ny.us.

Sanitary Code Violations countywide can be reported to the Center for Rockland Codes Investigations (RCI) at 845-364-2585 or by filing a report online.

The Rockland County Department of Health’s Healthy Neighborhoods Program (HNP) provides free smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms to eligible residents.

To schedule a free Healthy Neighborhoods Program home visit, call 845-364-3292 or 845-364-3290. You can also email us at: HealthyNeighborhoods@co.rockland.ny.us

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