A success story from the Housing Unit
Steve and June (fictitious names) were living in their apartment for over a year with no problems until this past March when their landlord blindsided them with a summons and complaint, an unlawful detainer eviction notice. Like many tenants who are served with an unlawful detainer, the couple had no idea what to do, how to respond to the notice. Stressed about why they’d gotten the notice and the possibility of losing their apartment in the middle of a pandemic, they called the CLA SoCal Intake and Assessment Hotline, hoping for some guidance.
Our Housing Unit advocates took their case and discovered when they went to answer the complaint that Steve had been defaulted prior to the service. Although the landlord alleged he served them with a 30-day notice, neither Steve nor June received it. A week after they received the complaint, the landlord served them with a 60-day notice.
CLA SoCal housing attorney Mark Derflinger represented the couple in court and went in with a motion to set aside the default, which was granted unopposed. The Judge ordered the landlord to produce the 30-day notice at the next hearing or the case would be dismissed. The landlord did not do so. As a result, the case was dismissed, leaving Steve and June relieved and grateful for Mark’s representation and the positive outcome of their case.
