Elder Financial Abuse Affirmative Litigation and Cancellation of Void Deed, PLC 19E-1048579
Client is a monolingual Spanish speaker in her 70s. A family member recorded a deed purporting to transfer title of Client's home into the family member's name. The family member has threatened that he will remove Client from the property, which will result in Client experiencing homelessness. Client seeks assistance cancelling the deed so that she can maintain her housing. The purported grant deed does not appear to comply with the Government Code.
Eviction Defense, PLC 21E-1054806
Client is a single mother of two children. She has been unable to pay rent due to the COVID-19 pandemic but has been submitting declarations to her landlord. Client applied for rental assistance, but her application is still pending. Her landlord is now seeking to evict based on a violation, unrelated to payment of rent, that she disputes. Client has a hearing on a Motion to Quash Service in the next week and may need assistance defending the case after the motion is heard.
Eviction Defense & Disability Discrimination, PLC 21E-1054620
Client is a single mother of five children. She has been unable to pay rent due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She has a child with a disability and has dealt with her own health issues as well. Her landlord was able to get a default judgment entered against her in an eviction case. Client needs assistance seeking relief from the default judgment and possibly pursuing a disability discrimination action, either through the Department of Fair Employment and Housing or through a civil action or both.
Furthering Fair Housing Laws, PLC 20E-1049214
Client is a person with mental health disabilities. Client receives a federal subsidy to rent in the private market. Although client is now stably housed, the housing provider that refused to rent to her caused her mental anguish that exacerbated her mental health condition and resulted in her hospitalization. Client seeks to file suit against the housing provider to ensure compliance with federal and state fair housing laws.
Habitability/Dispute with Homeowners Association, PLC 20E-1052583
Clients are a veteran and his partner. They own a condominium and recently experienced substantial water damage to their condominium. The homeowners association’s (HOA) insurance denied coverage, despite stating that the cause was from an area within the control of the HOA. Clients are seeking assistance with repairing the damage to their condominium through negotiation and possibly litigation.
Homeowner's Insurance/Contractor Dispute, PLC 20E-1052643
Clients are English speakers in their early 70s. Clients are having a dispute with their insurance regarding coverage for repairs that they had done to their home. They are seeking to recover over $30,000.00 for repairs they paid for out of pocket based on an understanding that their homeowner’s insurance company would cover. In addition, Clients believe some of the costs are the responsibility of a contractor for failing to properly repair initial damage. Clients seek assistance working with their insurance company and the contractor to make themselves whole and more on with their lives.
Housing Discrimination, PLC 20E-1052328 & 20E-1052335
Clients are a married couple who have a Section 8 voucher. They seek to reside in a senior community, but have been discouraged from renting there. In at least one case, they were specifically declined because of their Section 8 voucher, in violation of state law. Clients would like assistance pursuing their claims of discrimination against the housing providers and their agents.
Landlord Retaliation, PLC 21E-105
Client is a tenant in a local complex. Due to health concerns, Client refused fumigation and ever since then Client is being targeted by the landlord. Client believes other tenants are facing similar situations, and would like assistance advocating for her right to live in a habitable, affordable apartment.
Landlord/Tenant Disputes
Public Law Center is seeing an influx of cases relating to Landlord/Tenant disputes. Some cases involve defending unlawful detainer/eviction cases, some setting aside default judgments that have been entered, and others filing affirmative cases for habitability, discrimination, or other violations of law. Keeping people in safe and healthy housing is a priority, particularly while we are still in a pandemic. PLC is seeking attorneys interested in litigation who are willing to be contacted on short notice to assist a Public Law Center client with responsive pleadings, including answers and motions, and to provide representation in these landlord/tenant cases.
Landlord/Tenant – Illegal Eviction, PLC 20E-1050325 & 20-1050916
Clients seek to file an affirmative complaint against their landlord for an illegal eviction and damages, including emotional distress damages, stemming from their landlord’s unlawful actions after their landlord promised clients that they could return to the unit after the landlord repaired it, following clients’ requests that the landlord provide them with a habitable place to live. Clients vacated the unit and when they returned, they found the unit re-rented and their belongings gone.
Predatory Lending/PACE Home Improvements, PLC 21E-1053491
Client is a monolingual Spanish speaker in her late 40s. Client obtained Property-Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing for work that was never completed on her home. All discussions related to the home "improvements" were in Spanish, and all documents related to the home "improvements" she signed were in English. As a result of the PACE assessment, Client's property taxes have increased by over $10,000 a year, an amount she is unable to pay. Client fears losing her home. Client would like assistance rescinding the contract and removing the tax assessment from her property.
Predatory Lending/PACE Home Improvements, PLC 19E-1045127
Client is a monolingual Spanish-speaking widow in her 70s. Client obtained Property-Assessed Clean Energy Financing (PACE) financing through a door-to-door salesperson to make improvements to her home, some of which she does not believe were energy efficient or were done poorly. All discussions were in Spanish, and all documents she signed were in English. As a result of the work, Client's property taxes have increased by over $10,000 a year. Client would like assistance rescinding the contract and removing the tax assessment from her property.
Predatory Lending/PACE Home Improvements, PLC 20-1051904
Client is a monolingual Spanish speaker in her early 50s. Client obtained Property-Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing for work that was never completed on her home. All discussions related to the home "improvements" were in Spanish, and all documents related to the home "improvements" she signed were in English. As a result of the PACE assessment, Client's property taxes have increased by over $4,000 a year, an amount she is unable to pay. Client fears losing her home. Client would like assistance rescinding the contract and removing the tax assessment from her property.
Predatory Lending/PACE Home Improvements, PLC 19E-1047995
Client is in her 60’s and speaks Spanish. Client was solicited for so-called energy efficient home improvements by a door-to-door salesperson. Client considered the improvements, but never actually signed a contract. Without client’s understanding, the contractor financed home improvements through a tax assessment on client’s property. The contractor never started work on the project, and client was shocked to learn what happened when she received her next property tax statement. Client is seeking assistance recovering the money she paid to remove the tax assessment so she can pay back the countless friends and family who helped her raise that money.
Property Damage to Mobilehome, PLC 20E-1052263
Clients are seniors who, several years ago, purchased a mobilehome in a senior mobilehome park, where they had hoped to live out their retirement. After purchasing the mobilehome, the Park has had major issues that have caused significant damage to their mobilehome among other costs to the clients and a need to make claims on their insurance. These issues were not disclosed to Client prior to them purchasing the mobilehome. Clients hired an inspector who concluded that the Park's failure to maintain is the cause of the issues. The issues are now affecting the Clients’ health and they are unable to sell their mobilehome and relocate because of the concerns. Clients would like to bring an action against the Park to be compensated so that they can relocate to protect their health.
