One night, Michelle Albright – a single mom with a young daughter – returned to her apartment in Corona to find the landlord had changed the locks. Although she had previously received an eviction notice, her case was still moving through the courts, and she thought she had more time to defend herself. The eviction was unlawful, but Michelle didn’t know it at the time.
She had no other option but to leave the apartment, with all her and her daughter’s belongings on the other side of the door. With no time to plan or save, she dropped her daughter off at her mom’s and found a place to sleep in her car. During the transition, she tried to maintain as much normalcy as possible for her daughter, going every morning to get her ready for school and every night to get her ready for bed.
And while nothing was normal about this situation for Michelle and her daughter, it unfortunately isn’t uncommon in Inland Southern California, where lack of affordable housing leaves families struggling to find even footing. Michelle’s story exemplifies how evictions destabilize families and childhoods, often taking years to put the pieces back together.
Sadly, that was not the end of Michelle’s problems with this eviction case. Just days after the lockout, she began receiving collections notices from her previous landlord for unpaid rent and other inflated charges related to her tenancy – demands of more than $26,000. Hopelessness set in. There was no way she’d be able to pay that back while trying to get back on her feet.
Fortunately, that’s when she turned to ICLS. Michelle’s case was incredibly complex, and ICLS brought in attorneys from our Consumer and Housing teams, as well as two pro bono volunteers, to holistically address her legal issues. Together, they determined that Michelle had a strong case for a lawsuit due to the illegal lockout, loss of personal property, and additional Rosenthal and debt collection violations.
The Rosenthal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, which is part of the California Civil Code, protects consumers from abusive debt collection practices. In California, the Rosenthal Act applies not only to third-party debt collectors but also to original creditors, expanding its reach significantly within the state.
ICLS filed a lawsuit against Michelle’s previous Landlord, Property Manager, and Debt Collectors on her behalf for self-help eviction, loss of personal property, Rosenthal and other violations. After in-depth negotiations, all defendants agreed to forgive any debts Michelle may have owed and to pay her a total settlement of $18,000 which included $3,000 in attorney’s fees.
Through the duration of the lawsuit, Michelle continued facing housing instability, even briefly leaving the state. After receiving the settlement, Michelle was finally able to return home to Corona, secure stable housing, and get back to normal life with her daughter.
Legal aid keeps families together, stabilizes childhoods, and gives our neighbors the tools they need to thrive. Michelle’s story is just one of the thousands of clients we help navigate complex legal systems and defend their rights in court every year.