**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE***
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Lea Aldana Dwyer
Public Justice Center
(410) 625-9409
aldanadwyera@publicjustice.org
July 21, 2026
Northeast Baltimore City – Five Baltimore City residents, represented by the Public Justice Center and Gallagher LLP, filed suit today in the District Court of Maryland alleging that their unlicensed landlord, Pratum Companies, has failed to address overflowing trash and rodents at Yorkewood Apartments since at least May 2024. Maryland-based Pratum Companies manages over 15,000 apartment homes in 150 communities nationwide. Yet, even after Baltimore City revoked the property’s rental license in September 2025, and Fox45 News aired a story featuring the overflowing trash in October 2025, dumpsters and trash receptacles routinely overflow, according to the complaint. The resulting rat infestation has severely affected the families residing in the 285-unit apartment complex:
“The overflowing trash and resulting rodent infestation have affected my family’s life tremendously. I can’t open my daughter’s window because the smell is horrible. My children can’t play outside. The trash has attracted mice that are in my apartment. I am concerned about the health of my children. I just want to live peacefully in my home without worrying about mice crawling on my newborn baby,” explains Plaintiff-Tenant Danielle Kent.
“The first impression that anyone I invite to my house will have is the excessive trash, and then they have to run through rats to get to my apartment. It’s extremely embarrassing and difficult to have company,” said Plaintiff-Tenant Brandi Murphy.
“Residents of Yorkewood have done everything in their power to get the overflowing dumpsters and rodent infestation fixed, but Pratum Companies has blatantly ignored their complaints, as described further in the court filing. As a result, residents have been placed at high risk for food contamination, spread of diseases, and severe health hazards. Residents have no other choice but to call on the courts to hold the landlord accountable,” explained Public Justice Center attorney Lea Aldana Dwyer.
“Our clients are asking for nothing more than what we all want—to live in a clean, safe environment,” said Jean Zachariasiewicz, counsel at Gallagher LLP.
Plaintiffs have asked the Court to order Pratum Companies, a trade name for Full Circle Real Estate Partners, LLC, and complex owner Ark Yorkewood LLC to fix the trash and rodent issues immediately, abate rent, and award damages.
Find the complaint on the Public Justice Center’s website, Maleaka Boyd et al. v. Ark Yorkewood, LLC et al., D-01-CV-26-027003.
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About the Public Justice Center
The Public Justice Center pursues systemic change to build a just society. As a nonprofit civil rights law firm, we work to achieve racial and economic justice for people who are struggling to provide for their basic needs. Our Human Right to Housing Project stands with tenants to protect and expand their rights to safe, habitable, affordable, and non-discriminatory housing and their rights to fair and equal treatment by Maryland’s landlord-tenant laws, courts, and agencies. To learn more, visit www.publicjustice.org.
About Gallagher LLP
For 65 years, Gallagher has been a trusted partner for businesses and non-profits across the mid-Atlantic region. Representing top universities, hospitals, financial institutions, real estate developers, and more, Gallagher is experienced in a wide range of practice areas, including real estate development, affordable housing development and financing, civil litigation, health care, employment law, corporate transactions, renewable energy, and confidential investigations. Gallagher also has a deep commitment to working to improve the Baltimore community for all of its members and is proud to partner with organizations like the Public Justice Center. To learn more, visit https://www.gallagherllp.com/.
