WEST DES MOINES, Iowa — A former tenant who was kicked out of Valley West Mall in May said management did not help her address the flooding and water damage found in her unit that same month.
Jenn Thompson, who operates the Author Indie Book Expo, alleges mall staff were made aware of the water leak in May, and told her not to file an insurance claim for the damages. She said because the mall supposedly wouldn't help her with the issue, she called her insurance company to get it taken care of.
"Just to be treated like that, by adults, and I'm an adult, is really frustrating to see that high school, that '90s high school mentality carried over into today's adulthood," Thompson told Local 5 News on Sunday.
She recalls seeing a "waterfall coming down from upstairs," and noticed half of her ceiling caved in.
Once management returned her calls and emails, Thompson said they had a Zoom call where she felt like she wasn't being listened to, because the mall argued the leases tenants sign state: "units comes as is." And Thompson did note that she had water problems since moving in, September 2023.
"At that point, I had mold growing in my back room," she explained. "I was getting sick, and nobody had helped me clean anything up."
Also after the Zoom call with management, Thompson found out she was being evicted on May 19. She also learned that mall management had allegedly told other tenants and security not to talk to Thompson following the eviction.
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Thompson did admit she was behind on her rent, and held back her payment for the month of May, because she "felt like something was going to happen" between the two parties regarding the water damages,
"All I wanted was some help. I wanted to stay here. I still want to save this mall, even though I'm not here," Thompson reflected.
After the eviction, Thompson had to cancel her annual indie book expo at the mall, and is in debt to the 65 authors who had been scheduled to attend. Moving forward, she hopes she will be able to raise enough money to hold the event again next year.
Valley West Mall did not return or answer Local 5 News' multiple calls and messages for comment on the story. If that changes, this story will be updated properly.