Vietnam Veteran facing homelessness after being tricked into purchasing condemed home

Vietnam Veteran Don Palmier had no idea what the city of Enderlin North Dakota was about to do to him after he purchased a home on December 1st 2015. According to Palmer, he purchased the home knowing that it needed repairs. What he didn’t realize was that the City took legal action back in October while the property was under a different owner, saying code violations made the home a dangerous building.

Palmer says that neither the City nor the former homeowner told him about the city’s decision and three days after he moved in; he was slapped with a note of condemnation. At a recent City Council meeting, officials noted that according to two inspections, the house is unlivable and that the man can’t stay there for safety and liability reasons. Up until now, Palmer has made approximately $5,000.00 worth of improvements to his home but according to Fallon Kelly/Enderlin City Attorney, “The findings of the city were and still are that it is a dangerous building unfit for human habitation. So that’s why there cannot be any residence at the property now because it’s not fit for human habitation and that could be a danger to Mr. Palmier and others.”

The city has said that an appraisal of the home found $65,000 worth of repairs was needed. Palmier has until the end of August 2016 to get his house code or risk having his home condemned.

A search of various realators showed that Town and Country Realty had listed the propery with absolutely no indication that the city of Enderlin was persuing to have it condemed.

City Attorney Fallon Kelly is not new to bringing code violations against people. He was employed by the City of St. Paul for two years, working as a “legal intern” on code enforcement cases. His work included drafting complaints and bringing action against those in violation of city codes. He is a member of both the Minnesota and North Dakota Bar Associations.

Obviously, Palmier is a victim of Fallon Kelly’s obscure code violations designed to squeeze the pockets of law abiding citizens.

Fallon can be reached for comment at:

Ransom County State’s Attorney

P.O. Box 391

Lisbon, ND 58054-0391

Office: (701) 683-4123

E-Service: [email protected]