Mock-up of billboard for 111 Massachusetts Ave. from Digi Media brochure, courtesy of D.C. AG’s office.

In a lawsuit filed yesterday, D.C. Attorney General Karl Racine is calling for the removal of a number of brightly-lit electronic signs erected downtown to play advertisements.

The complaint at D.C. Superior Court names Digi Media Communications and a number of downtown property owners and operators for “illegal construction,” calling for injunctive relief. The complaint says that Digi Media has put up the signs “despite having no sign permits to do so and in clear violation of the District’s subsequent orders to stop.” It cites a brochure that the company is planning to have 52 such digital billboards on 20 sites.

According to the suit, Digi Media never applied for the proper permits to install the signs and did not stop installing them despite orders to do so from the D.C. Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs. In one case, at 111 Massachusetts Avenue NW, a DCRA inspector met with one of the owners, who said he was under a “work schedule” and refused to stop the installations, the complaint claims.

But the company disagrees. “Digi cooperated fully with permitting regulations, and all construction work was fully permitted with DCRA. Digi Media cannot discuss specifics during this process on the permits under appeal,” a Digi Media spokesperson said in a statement.

Racine wants the installation of further signs stopped, and the current ones removed. “The illegal brackets and LED signs defendants have erected pose a serious and significant threat to public safety,” the suit states, citing thousands of people walking under the signs daily. In addition to Digi Media, It names several major local development companies, including Douglas Development Corp.

Attempts to contact the property owners and operators involved have been unsuccessful. A picture from NBC4 shows that at least one of the electronic billboards has been covered up.

The brochure from Digi Media, which is exhibit 1 in the suit, says that the company has “complete market coverage in core city center and major arterials.” Advertisements are slated for 8 seconds in length and play on a 64 second loop, the brochure states.

A court hearing is scheduled for September 8.

Digi Media Brochure by Rachel Kurzius on Scribd

Updated with a statement from Digi Media.