The Office of the Attorney General determined that the father and son duo repeatedly failed to address deteriorating lead-based paint and did not consistently provide legally required disclosures to tenants. The investigation found that the Murphys allowed hazardous conditions to persist in nearly two dozen properties, ultimately leading to elevated blood lead levels in at least seven children.
To resolve the 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. They must also commit at least $80,000 toward lead inspections, risk assessments, and remediation work at their properties with a history of lead violations.
The settlement requires the Murphys to conduct comprehensive lead hazard risk assessments using certified professionals and remediate all identified hazards on a strict timeline. They must also hire an independent monitor to oversee compliance and ensure all work is completed safely and lawfully.
The agreement mandates 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.
The OAG launched its investigation into the Murphys in September 2023. Between 2017 and 2025, at least 23 of their properties were cited for deteriorating paint and other lead hazards, resulting in hundreds of violations.
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.
Attorney General James has previously secured settlements with other landlords for similar violations. In September 2025, she secured $515,000 from Buffalo landlord Farhad Raiszadeh. In December 2024, she secured $6.5 million from Lilmor Management.
This matter was handled by Assistant Attorneys General Abigail Katowitz-Liu and Patrick Omilian, with support from Environmental Scientist Jennifer Nalbone and Project Assistant Isabel (Izzy) Murphy, under the supervision of Environmental Protection Bureau Chief Lemuel M. Srolovic.