June 1, 2025 Your Source for Brentwood News

City Files Lawsuit Against Motel Owners For Allegedly Allowing Drug Activity

A Court Order Could Close the Motel for One Year and Require Changes to Management

By Zach Armstrong

A lawsuit has been filed against two Westside motel owners by the Santa Monica City Attorney’s Office, alleging the establishment creates a dangerous environment for its neighborhood by allowing drug deals, fights and more. If the City wins the verdict, a court order could close the motel for one year and require changes to management. 

The Pavilions Motel, located just west of Clover Park and within blocks of Grant Elementary School, has been the site of several drug-related arrests throughout its 30-year-history, the lawsuit asserts. 

This year, two executed search warrants recovered methamphetamine and fentanyl, along with baggies, scales and weapons in and around the motel.In 2007, Pavilions was part of a joint code enforcement and police operation which temporarily closed the business and led to the arrests of several people, including its owner, Saeed Farzam. Of five dead bodies found at the property since 2019, three were connected to drug abuse, the complaint alleges.

Nuisance activity continues to occur at the motel, the complaint states, with routine drug transactions taking place in its parking lot (which shares an alleyway with residential buildings) or through its windows. Various other illicit activities, such as prostitution and building violations, continue to plague Pavilions, the lawsuit states.

Chief of Police Ramon Batista said in a news release that the motel had an “outsized impact” on the deployment of police resources for years. According to the lawsuit, police regularly conduct enforcement at and around the Motel for up to a few weeks at a time.

Pavilions is owned and managed by Farzam along with Goharshad Farzam, who the complaint claims have violated the state Drug Abatement Act, state public nuisance laws and Santa Monica public nuisance law due to the perpetual illicit activity. The motel was not immediately able to respond to inquiry from Mirror Media Group.

Founded by the Farzams in 1990, Pavilions is a 20-unit budget motel along Ocean Park Boulevard. According to hotelscombined.com, the lodge’s cheapest per-night rate hovers around $100.

The lawsuit cites several posts dating back to 2011 from business-review websites where guests recounted unpleasant experiences. One Expedia reviewer stated in 2017 that groups of several people would rent rooms, stay drunk all night and get into fights. A Google review from late last year described Pavilions as the worst L.A. motel on account of cockroaches, the smell of methamphetamine smoke and constant fighting from other lodgers.

“Property owners are responsible for ensuring that their properties are not a nuisance or a danger to the neighborhood, and the city will hold them accountable when they fail to do so,” said City Attorney Douglas Sloan in a release.

The lawsuit seeks a court order to end drug activities, require physical and managerial improvements to the property, close the property for one year, seeks $25,000 in civil penalties per defendant and recovery of the city’s costs in investigating and abating the nuisance. 

The People of the State of California and the City of Santa Monica v. Saeed Farzam, Goharshad Farzam, and Pavilions Motel, Inc, has been assigned to Department 207 in the Beverly Hills Courthouse.

in Hard, News
Related Posts

Defensible Space, Defined: How A Plus Tree Protects Communities from Wildfire

May 30, 2025

May 30, 2025

In the wildfire-prone landscapes of the Western United States, safeguarding homes and communities requires proactive measures. A Plus Tree, a...

WeHo Pride Weekend Begins and 2025 Icons Announced: Parades, Concerts, and Community Celebration Kicks Off

May 30, 2025

May 30, 2025

Three-Day LGBTQ+ Festival Features Performances by Lizzo, Maren Morris, and Kim Petras West Hollywood is preparing to kick off its...

Palisades Village to Reopen in 2026 with Revamped Retail, Dining, and Community Spaces

May 29, 2025

May 29, 2025

Elysewalker Set to Return With Park Reconstruction, Holiday Events, and Streetscape Upgrades Palisades Village, the open-air shopping and lifestyle destination...

Bel Air Seventh Grader Reaches Finals of Scripps National Spelling Bee

May 29, 2025

May 29, 2025

Oliver Halkett of Mirman School Competed on Thursday for a $50,000 prize Thirteen-year-old Oliver Halkett, a seventh grader from Mirman...

(Video) Signs That Your Aging Loved Ones Are in Need of Caregiving

May 29, 2025

May 29, 2025

To Find Out More, Go To Safelyhomeagain.com To Find Out More, Go To https://t.co/kxgpFPbFq0 pic.twitter.com/71jDkkQBiR — BrentwoodNewsLA (@BrentwoodNewsLA) May 30,...

Brentwood Weekly Crime Report: May 18, 2025 – May 24, 2025

May 29, 2025

May 29, 2025

String of Burglaries Hits Brentwood; Businesses Among Targets By Matthew Kirk Brentwood has had a rash of commercial burglaries this...

Salt & Straw Unveils Summer Pie Series with Five Seasonal Ice Cream Flavors

May 29, 2025

May 29, 2025

Five New Flavors Inspired by Classic Summer Pies Will Be Introduced Salt & Straw is giving summer a scoopable twist...

(Video) Interviews with Rick Caruso and Elyse Walker, with a Dennis Quaid cameo

May 28, 2025

May 28, 2025

We spoke at the Press Conference to announce plans to reopen Palisades Village Shopping Mall. Actor Dennis Quaid arrives to...

Levain Bakery Debuts ‘Levain à la Mode’ with Local Ice Cream Partners for Summer

May 28, 2025

May 28, 2025

Seasonal Offering With Wanderlust Creamery is a First in Cookie Shop’s History For the first time in its three-decade history,...

Beverly Glen Sixth Grader Advances to Finals of National Student Cook-Off

May 28, 2025

May 28, 2025

Twelve-Year-Old Heads to Virginia to Compete in K12 Culinary Competition Abijah Levy Minor, a 12-year-old student from Beverly Glen, has...

Sarah Paulson to Host Charity Bingo Night for Pasadena Humane Society on June 5

May 28, 2025

May 28, 2025

Evening of Food, Wine, and Live Music to Raise Funds for Animal Rescue Efforts Emmy-winning actress Sarah Paulson will host...

Bay Cities Italian Deli Responds to Health Code Closure, Commits to Corrective Action

May 28, 2025

May 28, 2025

Santa Monica Landmark Disputes Rodent Claims but Acknowledges Violations Bay Cities Italian Deli, a Santa Monica staple renowned for its...

Film Review: Bring Her Back

May 28, 2025

May 28, 2025

By Dolores Quintana Grief is the price of love.  Danny Philippou and Michael Philippou’s second feature film, Bring Her Back,...

County Assessor Stresses Need For Fire-Affected Households to Update Addresses to Receive Relief Checks

May 28, 2025

May 28, 2025

Assessor’s Office Offers Automatic Tax Relief for Fire-Affected Homeowners Following the destruction caused by wildfires earlier this year, the Los...

Caltrans Schedules Public Meeting for $143.7 Million I-405 Rehabilitation Project

May 28, 2025

May 28, 2025

Virtual Forum Set to Brief Residents on Upcoming Construction The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) will hold a virtual public...