Defendant noticed expert witness deposition on the one day I had already told him I was unavailable

Usually you can work this out informally with the other attorney. The attorney should stipulate to a short extension if that is necessary.

I agree with the other attorney. Better to wait and get your stay.

Do we need to protect ourselves from the landlord?

Yes. You need to protect yourself. It sounds like the landlord will blame you for the fire. He will probably tell his insurance company this and...

If not able to serve plaintiff's claim and order to go to court to the defendant b4 the required time, what is my next step

I'm not sure I understand your circumstances. You sound at once like the landlord ("I rented a room") and then the tenant ("trying to get my...

What can I due if i have a lease signed

I agree with the other attorney but also think you should ask yourself whether you want to live in a house with such a landlord.

If I break a lease early, will I be able to get my security deposit back and have to pay the rest of the rent for the lease?

If you break your lease early without written agreement from your landlord not to charge you, the landlord is entitled to rent for the term of the...

What am i legally able to do?

You have a lot going on in this post. There are many more issues beyond simple landlord tenant evictions. You need to consult a lawyer. That being...

Follow the code as outlined by the other attorney and file a noticed motion.

Landlord is unresponsive, neglects duty to repair, & pass due on water, garbage & sewage. Can I break my lease without penalty?

Based on not having A/C, utilities being threatened to be cut off and plumbing leaks, you have habitability issues. The landlord has the...

I don't want to move but I would like to know my rights!

I agree with the other attorney. The first thing you need to do is document what is happening and put your landlord on notice.