Q: Can I take my parents to small claims courts for kicking me out with no notice, changing locks?
My parents invited me to live w them. I lived upstairs, it was explicitly stated that it was to be my home and area only. We had no disagreements for a year I am a good roommate and tenant. Because of a very minor first disagreement they changed the locks when I left for 2 days, kicked me out over text and refused to let me enter what had been my home for last13 months. I was screamed at and my father physically pushed me. I’m now homeless because of their erratic behavior, spent everything I saved on hotels hoping we could work out a peaceful agreement and been thru severe emotional distress because of their actions and had to miss important medical appointments also. Can I sue them for all motel nights, everything I’ve had to buy cuz they wouldn’t allow me entry and for pain and suffering? Would I have any chance of winning in court?
A:
Without additional information about the lease agreement you had with your parents, landlords, the incident, and other information, it is hard to know if you have a claim against your landlords. Assuming you have a lease agreement, you pay rent every month, then yes you would have a claim against them for ouster. It should be noted that it extremely unlikely that you would get damages for mental and emotional distress if you bring a claim against them. If you have not spoken with a landlord tenant attorney you should reach out for a consultation to determine your options.
Good luck.
Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.
