Real Estate

Landlord tenant law. I represent individuals and groups of residential tenants with issues such as substandard housing. I sue landlords who have wrongfully evicted tenants. I litigate and negotiate on behalf of tenants regarding a variety of other issues.

• Renting & Leasing
• Landlord
• Tenant

CA, Dec 1986
Bar Number: 126800

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United States District Court, Northern District of California.

California State Bar; Alameda County Bar; East Bay Tenant Bar Association.

I seek out courses which expand my ability to represent tenants with a range of legal problems. As a solo practitioner, I also find it very important to consult with other attorneys who practice in my field and attorneys who have specialized knowledge. I often co-counsel with other attorneys in order to achieve a better outcome for my clients. Working with others always adds to my knowledge. I also keep up on current developments through a number of publications. I have been a panelist in a seminar on elimination of bias in the legal profession.

In a fairly typical case, I represented twenty-five families in a crime-ridden multi-unit apartment complex in East Oakland. We sued the former owners, managers and the entity which put the property into receivership but then refused to make repairs. After a hard-fought battle, each client received a substantial settlement. At the other end of the size spectrum (but no less hard-fought), I represented a tenant who was locked out by his landlord when he was away due to illness. That case also ended in a substantial settlement, just weeks before trial was scheduled. Of course, not all of my cases end in major settlements. However, I work hard to obtain the best outcome possible given the circumstances of each case.

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California

My focus is tenant rights. Primarily, I sue landlords for grossly substandard conditions. I also represent tenants who have suffered accidents due to landlord negligence and tenants who have been wrongfully evicted from their homes. My practice ranges from representing single individuals to multi-plaintiff lawsuits in large complexes. I have represented clients in a number of forums, from local rent boards through class action lawsuits in State and Federal court. I have represented elderly and ill tenants whose landlords took advantage of their circumstances to try to evict them or to neglect the property. Recently, I have developed a small sideline of bringing lawsuits on behalf of persons who have been abused by security guards, both on rental properties and in other settings.

I have been in solo practice since 1986. From the beginning, I have been a tenant advocate.

I have been a tenant attorney for over twenty years. Prior to that, I worked as a gardener for over ten years, both in a self-employed capacity and for a municipal park and recreation department. As a parks worker, I was the Chief Shop Steward for a small local AFSME, handling member grievances through arbitration.

I volunteer at tenant legal clinics in Contra Costa County. I have been a guest lecturer in classes at New College of California and a paralegal course at San Francisco City College.

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(510) 451-9240

Varied.
Generally 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Yes

No

Most of the cases I litigate are taken on a contingency basis.

Variable, depending on the nature of the case, what is at issue, and client circumstances. Range: $100 - $400 per hour.

$50 per half hour for document review and initial consultation. Often, it saves time for the client to drop off documents for my review prior to the consultation.

Negotiable.