Paul W. Nochumowitz, who has been one of Baltimore’s biggest ground rent owners, has agreed to a $1.53 million settlement of a lawsuit that accused him of living lavishly from ground-rent income while claiming he was too poor to compensate former tenants harmed by exposure to lead paint.
The settlement ends a contentious court fight between Nochumowitz and bankruptcy trustee George Liebmann, who accused the ground rent owner in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Baltimore of concealing his wealth to escape liability for lead paint injuries in rental housing he owned.
“Those concerned feel it is a satisfactory result,” Liebmann said Thursday.
Liebmann said most of the money would be divided among more than a dozen families suing Nochumowitz and a business partner, alleging lead paint poisoning of their children during the 1990s. The money will be paid by Nochumowitz, the business partner, and members of their families.