GRAND RAPIDS, MI - A man who kept jugs of urine on his seventh-floor balcony has filed a federal lawsuit to avoid being evicted from his government-subsidized apartment complex.

One of the jugs leaked down the side of the building, resulting in a complaint by a first-floor resident at Grandview Apartments in Grand Rapids.

The manager and maintenance supervisor weren't thrilled, either.

The resident, who is disabled, contends that an eviction constitutes discrimination under the federal Fair Housing Act and Rehabilitation Act and Michigan's Persons with Disabilities Civil Rights Act.

Steven Hamblin, who has several health problems, including obesity, congestive heart failure, also suffers incontinence, which became severe in summer 2015.

"On several occasions his urge to urinate came on fast and he could not reach his bathroom," John P. Smith, an attorney for Legal Aid of Western Michigan, wrote in the lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Grand Rapids.

"Rather than urinate on himself, Mr. Hamblin urinated into jugs and other containers. Mr. Hamblin's multiple physical disabilities restrict his movement, he has a hard time bending over, and his physical condition has limited his ability to clean up after himself."

He said that at least one of the bottles leaked down the side of the building, upsetting the lower-level resident and bringing the issue to light.

Hamblin had spent several years homeless or nearly homeless, and became disabled and unable to work in 2008.

In 2012, he was awarded disability benefits through Social Security.

Grandview knew or should have known that he was disabled when he signed a lease in December 2013, the lawsuit said.

In August 2015, the manager and maintenance supervisor inspected Hamblin's apartment. After Hamblin was given 30 days to clean up, the manager conducted an early, surprise inspection, found the jugs were not gone and decided to evict Hamblin, the lawsuit said.

An eviction case was filed in Grand Rapids District Court in October. A month later, Hamblin sent a "reasonable accommodation" request to Grandview's attorney. The next day, a judge determined Hamblin violated his lease and entered a judgment of eviction against him.

Hamblin appealed.

His attorney then sent a letter to Grandview explaining he was seeking help from the state Department of Health and Human Services for housekeeping. During a Nov. 30 inspection, the apartment was found in satisfactory condition.

Earlier this month, a Kent County Circuit Court judge vacated the District Court judge's judgment and remanded the eviction case for trial. Grandview's attorney told Hamblin it would "address the accommodation issue pursuant to the outcome of the litigation," the lawsuit said.

Grandview's attorney, Matthew Paletz of Troy, said his client has not been served with the lawsuit and he did not want to comment without reviewing it.

The lawsuit seeks an injunction to prevent Grandview from "engaging in the unlawful conduct" and take "steps necessary to remedy the effects of such conduct and prevent similar occurrences in the future."

It also seeks compensatory damages and attorney fees.

John Agar covers crime and other issues for MLiveE-mail John Agar: jagar@mlive.com and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/ReporterJAgar