A prominent television executive in California warns others about the state's weak squatter laws after he lost millions of dollars in rent and property damage when a renter refused to leave his home.
Former ABC Entertainment President Steve McPherson is sounding the alarm about California's squatters' rights laws, which he claims are far too lenient and can leave homeowners vulnerable to exploitation. McPherson's nightmare experience began when he rented out his $12 million Santa Monica mansion to an Indian businessman named Gaurav Kumar Srivastava during the COVID-19 pandemic.
After a six-month lease, Srivastava refused to move out, leaving McPherson and his family homeless. McPherson's housekeeper discovered the property ransacked, with most of the family's furniture and a valuable wine collection stolen. Despite repeated attempts to evict Srivastava, McPherson was met with resistance and threats.
Frustrated by the lack of police action and the slow pace of the civil court process, McPherson has filed a civil lawsuit against Srivastava. The suit alleges that Srivastava refused to leave the property or pay rent for an additional five months, costing McPherson nearly $2 million in lost rent and damage.
McPherson's ordeal has raised concerns about the ease with which squatters can take over property in California. Squatter laws in the state are notoriously difficult to enforce, requiring homeowners to prove that a squatter does not have a legal claim to the property before initiating eviction proceedings. This burden of proof can be challenging and time-consuming, giving squatters an advantage.
In McPherson's case, Srivastava allegedly lied to police about the missing items, further obstructing the investigation. McPherson accuses the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office of declining to press charges against Srivastava, leaving him feeling frustrated and helpless.
Adding to the controversy, Srivastava and his wife have reportedly donated large sums of money to Democratic candidates, raising concerns about potential political influence. McPherson questions why Srivastava has not been arrested despite the numerous allegations against him.
"What does it take to get prosecuted in Los Angeles?" McPherson asks. "The biggest question I have is why he hasn’t been arrested for all of these crimes he is now accused of."
McPherson's experience has sparked outrage among California property owners, who fear that the state's weak squatter laws are putting them at risk. They are calling for revisions to the laws that would make it easier to evict squatters and hold them accountable for their actions.
Until the laws are changed, McPherson warns other homeowners to be cautious about renting out their properties in California. "I tell everyone all the time, ‘Do not rent your home. In California, you have no rights whatsoever,’" McPherson said.
