East Orange, NJ asked in Landlord - Tenant for New Jersey

Q: Was it correct for the judge to accept the landlord's claim of ownership without verifying documents in my eviction case

I am seeking advice regarding my eviction case. The landlord, who is a property manager, misrepresented himself as the owner during court. When the judge asked if he was the owner, he said yes. Both he and his relative lied in court, claiming that the relative had never paid rent and that they were only helping a friend out. I have lived in the property for years and have consistently paid rent.

The landlord expedited the matter by filing an order to show cause for a writ of possession, but I never received proper notice to vacate as a subtenant. The judge completely disregarded this issue and did not require the landlord to verify any documents supporting his claims.

Was it appropriate for the judge to ignore my lack of notice and accept the landlord's claims without verification? Given these circumstances, do I have a solid legal argument to challenge the eviction based on misrepresentation and lack of proper notice?

Thank you for any insights you can provide.

Related Topics:
1 Lawyer Answer

A: I would say that you do have a chance to have the matter put back into court. However, I would suggest you get a copy of the deed from the county clerk's office showing that the plaintiff is not the owner of the property.

Justia Ask A Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get free 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 Justia and you, or between any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions and you, 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.