A DeKalb County judge struck the defenses of an East Atlanta apartment complex where a teenage girl was murdered, ruling corporate officials repeatedly lied when they claimed they were unaware of gang activity at the crime-plagued development.

DeKalb County State Court Judge Johnny Panos said the owners of the Highlands at East Atlanta Apartments displayed a “pattern of deliberate misconduct [that] justifies the striking of their liability defenses” in the case.