Prolonged fight by a disabled individual over a $25,000 court-awarded reimbursement from the landowner
In Atlanta, Georgia, George Paulk Jr., also known as Pastor George, has been battling for habitable living conditions since 2019 at the Cobbs Creek Apartment Homes. Paulk, a disabled man, lives with his daughter and pays about $825 of his $970 monthly Social Security income for rent. Paulk's living conditions have been less than ideal, with a reported cockroach problem, mold, water intrusion, a collapsed bathroom wall, and a collapsing ceiling in the laundry room. He has documented these issues multiple times with DeKalb County Code Enforcement, but some complaints were closed without noted solutions or with a promise of a warning letter to the leasing office. In 2023, Paulk withheld rent and was served an eviction notice by his landlord, Dasmen Residential. However, the complex at Cobbs Creek Apartment Homes is currently under the management of financial advisory company B Riley Financial, who are responsible for running the property and paying necessary expenses. The situation became more complicated when the property owner defaulted on its loan, months after a DeKalb County judge ordered the property owner to pay Paulk $25,000 in damages and make repairs in January 2024. B Riley Financial's attorneys have instructed Paulk to follow the court order and release the rent money to them, but he fears eviction if he does so. To address his concerns, Paulk has taken several steps. He has requested repairs from his landlord in writing, filed a suit in small claims court for repairs, and even filed a writ of Fieri facias (Fi Fa) in DeKalb County court to place a lien on the property before it sells to a new owner. He has also considered hiring an attorney to help him recover garnishments by tracking down the owner's bank accounts. In an effort to support Paulk and other residents facing similar issues, Paulk has created a GoFundMe page to raise funds for moving out of the apartment. He is also volunteering with the Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America, a program helping people purchase homes and close gaps between racial and income disparities. DeKalb County residents can now submit code violation complaints directly on the county's website, with an officer assigned to inspect the property within three to five business days. Records from April 2020 to 2025 show that residents at the Cobbs Creek Apartment Homes filed 20 code violation complaints for similar concerns over five years. The firm responsible for the receivership of Cobbs Creek Apartment Homes, including operation, financing repairs, and payments of the required $25,000, is Apex Asset Management. The future of the Cobbs Creek Apartment Homes and its residents, like Paulk, remains uncertain, but his fight for habitable living conditions continues.
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