Federal Judge Dismisses Tenant’s Mold Exposure Lawsuit Against AvalonBay Communities

Trenton, NJ — A federal judge in New Jersey has dismissed a lawsuit brought by a Princeton tenant who claimed that AvalonBay Communities, Inc., the national apartment developer and property management firm, failed to address mold and unsafe living conditions in her affordable housing unit.

In an opinion issued by U.S. District Judge Zahid N. Quraishi, the court granted AvalonBay’s motion to dismiss the fifth amended complaint filed by Marcia Rafter, who represented herself in the case. The ruling ends a long procedural battle that included five iterations of Rafter’s complaint and multiple motions before the District of New Jersey.

Procedural History

Rafter first filed suit on August 31, 2023, alleging that AvalonBay an...