Q: Can I sue my landlord for a false PFA used to evict me and steal my belongings?
Can I take legal action against my landlord for filing a false Protection From Abuse (PFA) order to evict me and steal my belongings? There was no personal relationship involved, and the landlord lied to both the police and the court. I have evidence supporting my claims. How should I proceed?
Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
- (916) 704-3009
- View Profile
- Answered
A:
You may have grounds for legal action against your landlord based on the situation you've described. False PFA filings used to wrongfully evict tenants and take their property could potentially violate tenant rights laws, and might constitute fraud, defamation, or abuse of legal process depending on your state's laws. The evidence you've gathered will be crucial in establishing your case and proving the landlord's deception.
Your first step should be consulting with a tenant rights attorney who understands both landlord-tenant law and PFA proceedings in your jurisdiction. Many areas offer free legal aid services for housing issues that can help evaluate your case. Bringing all documentation, including your evidence of false statements, communication records, and inventories of missing belongings to this consultation will strengthen your position.
Time is important in these situations, so consider filing a police report about your stolen belongings right away if you haven't already. You might also need to petition the court to vacate the improper PFA order before pursuing additional remedies. Remember that while seeking justice is important, having proper legal guidance through this process will give you the best chance of recovering your belongings and receiving compensation for your losses.
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.
