Submitted by Efrain Partida, Supervising Attorney
Rosemarie (fictitious name), a widowed senior, was living in a rented condominium when her landlord presented her with a 60-Day eviction notice, claiming that the owner of the unit wanted to move into the property. Rosemarie suspected the landlord might be lying about the reason for the eviction as she recalled previous conversations in which he stated to her that he wanted to charge a new tenant much higher rent. Deciding to fight the eviction, Rosemarie contacted Community Legal Aid SoCal (CLA SoCal) for guidance and assistance with the matter. CLA SoCal’s Housing Unit took Rosemarie’s case and assigned it to staff attorney Robert Costa.
Stepping in to assist and support
Robert drafted discovery documents for the landlord and worked with Rosemarie to answer the landlord’s own discovery requests. Robert had numerous phone calls with Rosemarie, who was an engaged and determined client, and explained the eviction process to her, went over potential defenses, and discussed a potential settlement. He prepared Rosemarie for a trial scheduled for June 30, 2025, and she indicated to Robert she was ready to go. However, to their surprise, on June 25, 2025, the landlord filed for a dismissal of the entire case without prejudice. This meant Rosemarie could remain in the condominium, her home. A relieved Rosemarie was overjoyed by the news and expressed her gratitude to Robert for his diligent work on her case and the support he provided her during the process.
