Melrose, MA
Family Lawyer at Melrose, MA
Practice Areas: Family, Health Care, Guardianship
OUTCOME: Win for the tenant!
A very nasty eviction in Malden, client had only one defense, but that was enough. This case was a win because the tenant got almost a full year from when the notice to quit was sent and money to help ... him move.
OUTCOME: Tenant received 3 times the security deposit; Atty's fees were in excess of 7 times the security deposit.
Landlord violated security deposit law in not returning to tenant within 30 days of tenant vacating. Landlord refused to settle case for more than a year, requiring filing of complaint, discovery, and ... motions to dismiss frivolous counterclaims by landlord. Negotiated after my motion to dismiss all landlord's claims and for more fees was about to be ruled on (Judge suggested to Landlord's attorney he should settle the case).
OUTCOME: Negotiated settlement for $12,500.
Security deposit violation/no heat/boiler debris blown into the unit.
OUTCOME: Negotiated settlement Landlord paid $3,000
Represented Landlord for eviction with substantial counterclaims. Negotiated settlement for 1/3 of landlord's liability and got tenant's out in less than 30 days.
OUTCOME: Waiver of rent and "use and occupancy" valued at $18,000, and a cash payment of $52,500 a total value to the client of $70,500.
I settled a case I was sure would go to trial. The basic facts are that a tenant, my client, rented a basement apartment in an upscale city. Turned out the unit was below grade and had chronic dampness ... issues. There were many other issues with the unit, but this was the most significant. Tenant did everything right, paid her rent, communicated with landlord via email and letters stating the problems and requesting the landlord fix the unit. Landlord, who was a corporation, was run by a family who had no business being professional landlords. I dealt with the family attorney, who knew very little about landlord tenant law (something I often find myself dealing with). Communications with this attorney went no where for 11 months. After multiple health inspections, citations, and a condemnation hearing the position of the opposing attorney was that the landlord had no duty to fix anything and that tenant was a bad person for not paying the rent (even though serious health defects existed). No response to the demand letter that was sent, the only offers that came in were for her to vacate and pay the back rent, then some discussion of waiving the past rent if she moved out immediately. Family attorney files eviction for non-payment, in the face of rent withholding and reporting to the city. I filed a 19 page answer and counterclaims on behalf of the tenant. Meanwhile, City holds another condemnation hearing and deems the unit "uninhabitable" and posts a 48 hour notice to vacate on the door. I filed a preliminary injunction to force landlord to pay for tenant's housing and food expenses while she lived outside the unit. Apparently, this caused the attorney to consult with an experienced landlord side attorney in Boston. After about 10 days of negotiating we settled the case.
OUTCOME: Settlement
A very challenging case, after a 4-way conference and some additional negotiations we were able to come to an agreement and convert to a joint petition at the motion hearing for temporary orders.
OUTCOME: negotiated settlement prior to trial
Represented wife and was able to negotiate a settlement of property, retirement, and debt in wife's favor. Husband accepted liability for more than 90% of the marital debt outstanding.
OUTCOME: negotiated settlement of 3 times the security deposit
Landlord violated the rules for security deposits.
OUTCOME: R.O. Granted and extended; criminal prosecution
A very sad case, young child's grandfather attempted to solicit her for sexual acts via text messaging and phone calls.
OUTCOME: 2 Months free rent; Additional 60 days to move; $1500 check and $750 in Attorney's fees
Tenant moved into an apartment, promised a lease and was never given one. Landlord's agent was unreasonable with tenant and changed many of the terms of the agreement (that was never put into a lease). ... Bathroom had some minor code violations.
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