Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes announced Tuesday that a receiver has been appointed for Heritage Village, an assisted living facility in Mesa.

Maricopa County Superior Court appointed Peter S. Davis of J.S. Held, LLC as receiver, and he will “work at the direction of the court to protect the residents, bring the facility into compliance with state regulations and manage the facility’s finances,” according to a release.

“Appointing a receiver is just the first step in protecting the residents of Heritage Village,” Mayes said.

“The receiver will need to ensure ongoing care for residents and ultimately find new owners qualified to run the facility properly. The residents of this facility and their families deserve much better care and support than they have received in the past, and this is a significant step in ensuring they do.”

Mayes asked a month ago that a receiver be appointed. In a lawsuit, her office alleged elder abuse and consumer fraud by the owners and others involved in the enterprise.

The attorney general filed the lawsuit and receivership application to make immediate changes at Heritage Village and prevent the need to relocate approximately 150 residents.

The Arizona Department of Health Services announced in January it intends to revoke the Heritage Village license due to a repeated pattern of numerous and severe violations Arizona law, an earlier release from Mayes’ office stated.

Davis will take immediate control of the facility, but the state will continue to litigate its case and seek accountability for all defendants, officials said.

Mayes does not intend to let the current owners to ever resume operating the facility, according to her office’s April 23 release.

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