Former Slave Theater Owner's Nephew Sues Senior Housing Facility

The nephew of former judge John Phillips is suing Prospect Park Residence, an assisted living center near Grand Army Plaza, for not properly treating his uncle in his last year of life, according to the Brooklyn Paper.

John Phillips, a prominent Bed-Stuy figure and former owner of the Slave Theater on Fulton Street, was nicknamed "the kung fu judge" for his knowledge of marial arts. In 2001, the judge was declared mentally incompetent, and was provided with court-appointed guardians who eventually stole hundreds of thousands of dollars from his estate. He moved to Prospect Park Residence in 2007 and died a year later at 83 years old.

Now, Phillips' nephew, Samuel Boykin, is suing the unlicensed senior housing facility for leaving Phillips without heat for several days, not allowing family members to visit, and failing to properly treat Phillips for diabetes, according to the report.

"This is a dangerous place," Boykin told the Brooklyn Paper. 

When Phillips first entered Prospect Park Residence, he was promised an individualized diet, as well as treatment and close monitering by health professionals. 

The lawsuit states that none of these things were provided, and that operators of the facility committed fraud by not having a proper health department license. The lawsuit also states that mistreatment and bad conditions eventually led to Phillips' death.

Boykin is seeking $40 million in damages from the facility.

"It's like something from a Dicken's novel," said lawyer John O'Hara, who filed the lawsuit. "It's bad."

Attorney Mark Landman, who is representing Prospect Park Residence, was not available for comment.