The renter/defendant of a house owned by the owner/plaintiff told a potential buyer of the house that a registered sex offender lived immediately across the street from the house. The sale fell through and the owner sued the renter for interfering with the sale. The renter filed an anti-SLAPP motion under Code of Civil Procedure section […]
Grant Of Landlords’ Anti-SLAPP Motion Against Tenant Reversed.
Landlords filed an unlawful detainer action, dismissing it prior to trial purportedly due to the unavailability of an essential witness. The tenant filed an action for nuisance, negligence, and intentional and negligent interference with contract. The trial court granted the landlords’ anti-SLAPP motion because the filing of an unlawful detainer action is a protected activity. […]
Landlord Was Additional Insured, But Only When It Faced Liability Arising Out Of Tenant’s Acts.
A restaurant burned down because of the restaurant’s negligence. There were two insurance policies. The restaurant’s policy listed the landlord as an additional insured, which also had an exclusion for claims between insureds. The landlord had a separate policy and collected under it. The landlord’s insurer brought an action for subrogation against the restaurant owner, […]
Discrimination In Housing.
Defendants, who owned rental dwellings, were sued by the U.S. Justice Department for violation of the Fair Housing Act [42 U.S.C. §3604(a)-(d)] for refusing to rent to non-Korean tenants, refusing to rent to African Americans, refusing to rent to families with children and advertising with a preference for Korean tenants. They tendered the defense of […]
City Ordinance Relating To Clean And Safe Rental Properties.
Petitioner is the owner of residential properties in Santa Cruz. Prompted by findings of substandard, overcrowded and unsanitary residential rental properties, the City of Santa Cruz passed an ordinance calling for annual inspections of all residential rental properties within City limits. Petitioner filed a petition for writ of mandate, arguing the ordinance is preempted by […]
Mobilehome Up For Sale Protected By Rent Control, Even If Not Principal Residence.
Damages awarded against a mobilehome park were measured by the difference between the rent charged and the rent permitted by a city ordinance. Civil Code §798.21 provides that a mobilehome space is exempt from a local rent control ordinance if the space is not the principal residence of the homeowner. One homeowner, whose mobilehome was […]
Tenant’s Release For Landlord’s Negligence Enforceable.
Civil Code §1953 says it’s against public policy for “any” provision in a lease to require a lessee to waive a landlord’s exercise of due care to prevent personal injury or property damage. Here tenant waived liability for landlord’s negligence in operating a tenant-only health club and exercise facility. The Court of Appeal said the […]