Ex-landlord sues ‘K-Rod,’ alleges damage to home

Pontiac — A former Detroit Tiger who earned a nickname for his ability to strike out batters is being sued in Oakland Circuit Court for $80,000 for alleged damage done to a furnished home he rented in Bloomfield Hills.

Francisco Rodriguez, 35, was known as “K-Rod” over a Major League Baseball career with five teams.

But Akram Namou’s memories as Rodriguez’s landlord are not as pleasant, according to a lawsuit he filed this month against the ballplayer.

Rodriguez rented a six-bedroom home on Birchwood Way from Namou for $10,000 a month between March and September 2016, according to the complaint.

Rodriguez signed an agreement of responsibility for the maintenance and contents of the home, according to court records but after he moved out last year, Namou found numerous furnishings damaged or missing, including a piece of “Tiger art” Namou valued at $10,000, the suit says.

The alleged damage exceeded Rodgriguez’s $15,000 security deposit, which Namou kept. He seeks the balance in the suit.

“My client was attempting to resolve the matter with Rodriguez, but efforts failed and decided it was time to file a lawsuit,” said Namou’s attorney, Rima Elzein.

Rodriguez could not be reached for comment; calls to his agent were not returned Wednesday.

According to court records, a 27-year-old woman and three children, aged 2, 3 and 4, were all reported to be living in the home during the rental. Their relationship to Rodriguez was unclear.

Items missing ranged from bathroom soap dishes and towels to furniture and the pricey piece of art, the suit alleges. Other furnishings were reported damaged — from chipped furniture to a glass living room table, a crystal floor lamp and a Moroccan mirror — while Rodriguez had them in his possession.

Broken plumbing on the home’s upper level reportedly dripped into a basement poker room and damaged other furnishings. Glasses were missing from a bar where glass shelving was reported broken and a wine holder and vase had disappeared, the suit says.

Namou claims he has been unable to rent or sell the home because of the damage and losses.

A six-time All-Star, Rodriquez posted 1,142 strikeouts and 437 saves for the Los Angeles Angels, New York Mets, Baltimore Orioles, Milwaukee Brewers and the Tigers, who released him in June.

mmartindale@detroitnews.com

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