Evicted Without Just Cause?
Common Types of Wrongful Eviction
Illegal Lockouts & Utility Shutoffs
It is against the law for a landlord or property manager to change your locks, remove your belongings, or shut off your utilities to force you out. Only a judge and a sheriff have the legal authority to physically remove a tenant.
Fraudulent Owner Move-Ins
Landlords often falsely claim they or a family member are moving into your unit just to evict you and raise the rent. If they do not actually move in within the legally required timeframe, you can sue for significant damages.
Wrongful Terminations
Many notices to quit or notices to vacate are completely void because they lack legally required language, or were done to retaliate against the tenant. If your tenancy was unlawfully terminated, it's time to take legal action.
Retaliation & Discrimination
You cannot be evicted because of your race, gender, family status, immigration status, or because you complained about unsafe living conditions. Evicting a tenant as a form of punishment is illegal.
California's Just Cause Protections
Under California’s Tenant Protection Act and many local just cause for eviction ordinances, a landlord cannot simply kick you out because they feel like it. They must have a valid, legally recognized ‘Just Cause’ to terminate your tenancy such as unpaid rent or a severe lease violation.
If they attempt a ‘no-fault’ eviction (like claiming they are taking the property off the market or moving a family member in), they are strictly required to follow specific procedures, provide extended notice, and often pay you relocation assistance. If a landlord fails to follow these laws to the letter, their eviction attempt may be entirely illegal.
How We Can Help
If you were already illegally forced out through lockout, harassment, fraud, discrimination, retaliation, or because of defective conditions, we can file a civil lawsuit for your injuries and damages.
If your landlord performed a legal ‘no-fault’ eviction but failed to pay your mandatory relocation assistance, we can take legal action to force them to hand over exactly what you are owed.
When landlords use malicious or fraudulent tactics, such as faking an owner move-in or illegally shutting off your utilities, you may be entitled to treble or punitive damages specifically to punish their illegal behavior.
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