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Lawyers For Alleged 'Sex-For-Repairs' Victims Want Class Action Status

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Maintenance workers accused of demanding sex in exchange for making repairs in public housing units. Now lawyers say there could be hundreds of alleged victims. They want a class action status for a lawsuit against the Housing Authority.

Meghan McCorkell has the new details.

Nine additional women have now joined the lawsuit, saying maintenance men refused repairs if they didn't get sex.

Rats eating through walls, heating systems broken for years and raw sewage coming up through the sinks.

"It's not good. It's not good. Something really needs to be done," said Tyesha Harrell, Gilmor Homes resident.

But dozens of women say to get repairs in their public housing units, maintenance workers demanded sex; one of them saying, "What are you going to do for me?"

"Then they come in there and try to get fresh and try to hit on us, but you haven't been doing anything," said Sara Garrett, Gilmor Homes resident.

Twenty women have now come forward, saying they were forced to perform sex acts or suffer unlivable conditions.

Attorneys, who have filed for class action status, say there are many more.

"We expect there to be hundreds of women who were affected, and we want to make sure every one of them is protected," said Cary Hansel, attorney.

The lawsuit claims housing officials knew about it for years, with one official telling an alleged victim he "...could not guarantee her safety if she continues with her complaint."

The allegations of sexual misconduct occurred in four different public housing properties, including Gilmor Homes.

Housing Commissioner Paul Graziano has started touring those complexes and making changes.

"I can't comment on personnel matters, but it's part of an ongoing investigation as well," he said.

While some repairs have been made...

"It's too little, too late," said Hansel. "And we want to see justice done, not just for our clients, but for all the women in public housing."

A criminal investigation is also underway.

In a statement to WJZ, the Housing Authority says it hasn't had a chance to review the additional allegations.

A mediation conference on the lawsuit is scheduled for December 14.

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