Major Topeka apartment owner pays $70,000 in fines for trash violations

TOPEKA (KSNT) – The owner of numerous Topeka apartment complexes has paid more than $70,000 in fines following the conclusion of courtroom proceedings earlier this week.

27 News got in touch with Dan Garrett, spokesman for the City of Topeka, who said a defense attorney representing Eucalyptus Real Estate, LLC paid a $61,148 fine on Tuesday, March 18 as part of a plea agreement. The fines were paid on top of an additional $9,416.78 paid by Eucalyptus LLC for cleanup fees associated with trash problems at local apartment complexes.

The City of Topeka and its Property Maintenance Division (PMU) took legal action against Eucalyptus LLC and its owner Lew McGinnis late last year for alleged trash violations at numerous apartments. Tenants at these apartments came together to draw attention to the issues in 2024 which included overflowing dumpsters filled with garbage they said were a danger to the public's health.

"The City of Topeka’s prosecution and PMU teams successfully brought forty-seven PMU cases against numerous LLCs with the principal owner Lew McGinnis, to a resolution," Garrett said. "These cases stemmed from a month-long investigation in December 2024, following numerous complaints about excessive trash accumulation and the absence of proper dumpsters across thirty-eight multi-family housing complexes."

Garrett said an investigation by the City of Topeka found that numerous properties owned by McGinnis had lost their contracts with a trash pickup company. This led to "serious health and safety hazards" that prompted the PMU to open 36 sanitation cases and 11 housing cases against McGinnis.

"This outcome reinforces the importance of proactive enforcement and interdepartmental collaboration in holding property owners accountable for maintaining safe and sanitary living conditions," Garrett said.

An attorney representing Eucalyptus filed a lawsuit on Dec. 31, 2024 against LRS South, LLC for allegedly breaking its contract with Eucalyptus. The lawsuit asked LRS South to pay $75,000 in damages.

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