Cleveland judge levies $13M in derelict housing fines

CLEVELAND (AP) — A Cleveland housing court judge has imposed $13 million in fines on two companies for failing to clean up dilapidated homes.

Judge Raymond Pianka imposed the fines on Interstate Investment Group and Paramount Land Holdings, sister companies based in Gilbert, S.C.

The cases involve major violations at eight properties and less serious violations at five others. The companies pleaded no contest.

There was no immediate comment from the companies on whether they would appeal the fines imposed last week.