Murphys to Fund Tenant Relief, Eliminate Lead Hazards, and Submit to Strict Oversight After Investigation Found Widespread Violations
New York Attorney General Letitia James today announced a settlement with Syracuse landlords Brian A. Murphy and Harry Murphy following an investigation into dangerous lead hazards and unsafe living conditions throughout their rental properties, which were predominantly located in low-income neighborhoods. The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) determined that the Murphys repeatedly failed to address deteriorating lead-based paint and did not consistently provide legally required disclosures to tenants. The OAG found that the father and son duo allowed hazardous conditions to persist in nearly two dozen properties, ultimately leading to elevated blood lead levels in at least seven children. As a result of OAG’s investigation, the Murphys will establish a tenant relief fund for impacted families, take action to identify and eliminate lead hazards at properties with a history of lead violations, and bring their properties into compliance with housing and lead safety laws. “Lead poisoning is entirely preventable, yet too many New Yorkers are still exposed to toxic lead in their own homes because landlords fail to meet their legal obligations,” said Attorney General James. “The unacceptable conditions my office uncovered in this investigation put children at risk of serious, lifelong harm. Today’s settlement will bring relief to impacted tenants and force meaningful changes to ensure these properties are safe. I will continue to hold landlords accountable when they put profits over New Yorkers’ health and safety.” The OAG launched an investigation into the Murphys in September 2023. The investigation found that they owned and managed dozens of rental properties built before 1978, many of which contained lead-based paint. Between 2017 and 2025, at least 23 of their properties were cited for deteriorating paint and other lead hazards, resulting in hundreds of violations. During that time, at least seven children were found to have elevated blood lead levels while living in Murphy-owned properties. Lead-based paint in residential housing is a pervasive problem in Syracuse, where 81 percent of the housing stock was built before New York banned lead-based paint in 1970. Lead poisoning in Onondaga County is highest among children of color, the majority of whom live in Syracuse. In 2024, 545 children in Onondaga County had elevated blood lead levels, and 90 percent of those children lived in Syracuse. Approximately 8.8 percent of Black children tested in Onondaga County had elevated blood lead levels, compared to less than two percent of white children tested. Lead is a highly toxic metal that can cause serious and irreversible health effects. Children exposed to even low levels of lead are at risk for neurological and developmental harm during critical stages of growth. Children under six are especially vulnerable, as they are more likely to ingest lead through dust or paint chips from deteriorating surfaces in older homes. To resolve these violations, the Murphys will pay $35,000 to establish a tenant relief fund for families of children who were lead-poisoned while living in a Murphy property and commit at least $80,000 toward lead inspections, risk assessments, and remediation work at their properties with a history of lead violations. Attorney General James has also directed the Murphys to conduct comprehensive lead hazard risk assessments using certified professionals, remediate all identified hazards on a strict timeline, and hire an independent monitor to oversee compliance and ensure all work is completed safely and lawfully. The settlement also requires annual inspections for lead hazards in their rental properties and full compliance with all federal, state, and local lead safety and housing laws moving forward. If the Murphys fail to meet these obligations, they will face an additional penalty of up to $80,000.
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