By separate leases, Javins and a few others rented an apartment at the Clifton Terrace apartment complex. When they defaulted on their rent payments, the landlord, First National Realty, brought an action to evict them. The tenants admitted to the default but defended on the ground that the landlord had failed to maintain the premises in compliance with the Washington, D.C., Housing Code.
They alleged that approximately one thousand five hundred violations of this code had arisen since the term of their lease began. Discuss the merits of this case.