Atlanta, GA asked in Landlord - Tenant and Criminal Law for Georgia

Q: Can I sue my Landlord for wrongful eviction and false imprisonment

My twins played in paint on the floor in my kitchen. My landlord unexpectedly showed up the next morning and saw the paint, we had a disagreement and he walked out. I came home from work the next day for lunch break and there was a folder in my door that contained an eviction notice. I cleaned the paint up when I got off work that night. 3-4 months go by and I got served with a 7 day notice citing multiple failed inspections, past due rent, and damage to property. I received no notices about failed inspections,I’ve lived here since April 2020 and didn’t have to pay rent because I had no income when I became HOH, since the paint was washable and came off the floor there’s no damages in the apartment. I’m currently facing criminal charges for damage to property I’m out on bond awaiting a court date. I have photos to show my floors have no paint on them. I cannot afford a lawyer as I’m a single mom of 5 children

1 Lawyer Answer

A: I am very sorry to hear of your circumstance. I can only imagine how stressful this must be during this time of year. Based on what you are describing, it sounds like you have a very strong defense to the criminal case. Ask the court how you can apply for a court-appointed attorney. Depending on the location, the application process varies. However, regardless of the process, you should definitely apply.

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