Did your landlord empty your apartment, change the locks, or evict you before the eviction date you were given? If you lost access to your Baltimore home or had your belongings removed, Whitney, LLP can review what happened and determine whether you may have a wrongful eviction claim.
We represent tenants in Baltimore City in cases against apartment owners, property management companies, and private landlords. Our wrongful eviction practice focuses on pursuing compensation after tenants have been unlawfully removed from their homes.
Call 410-583-8000 or request a free case evaluation. For accepted wrongful eviction cases, there are no out-of-pocket expenses. Attorney fees and case expenses are paid from the recovery.
Seeking Compensation After a Wrongful Eviction
An unlawful eviction can leave you paying for temporary housing and replacing necessities while trying to find another place to live.
Depending on the circumstances and available claims, we may pursue compensation for lost or damaged property, expenses caused by the eviction, other financial losses, and emotional distress.
Our Maryland wrongful eviction results include a $275,000 settlement after the wrong apartment was emptied and a $225,000 settlement after an eviction proceeded despite payment.
Watch Whitney, LLP’s YouTube video on our $275,000 settlement in an illegal eviction case.
These are Maryland case results. Every case is different, and past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
For a broader explanation of our practice, visit our Maryland wrongful eviction lawyer page.
Our Experience With Wrongful Evictions in Baltimore City
Whitney, LLP has handled a variety of wrongful eviction cases in Baltimore City, including the wrong apartment being emptied, tenants being evicted before a warrant of restitution was issued, and tenants being told an incorrect eviction date.
With each case, we looked closely at what the landlord authorized, what the tenant was told, and what actually happened at the property. The apartment number on the instruction sheet, the date on the notice, or a message from management can all be an important part of the case.
If your landlord says the eviction was a mistake, we can investigate how that mistake happened and who was responsible. If management insists the removal was authorized, we can examine the records supporting that explanation.
Were You Evicted Before the Date You Were Given?
You may have arranged to move, taken time off work, or planned to collect your belongings based on a date supplied by your landlord. If the apartment was cleared before then, save anything showing the date you were told.
Baltimore City has specific notice requirements for failure-to-pay-rent evictions. The landlord must mail notice with a certificate of mailing at least 14 days before the first scheduled eviction date and post notice on the premises at least seven days beforehand. The notice must identify the case, tenant, rental address, and scheduled date.
Different requirements can apply to other types of eviction. A postponement also does not necessarily require a new notice under the city’s rule.
When reviewing an eviction involving conflicting dates, we want to know:
- What date appeared on the written notice?
- Did the landlord or property manager give you a different date?
- When did you lose access to the apartment?
- When were your belongings removed?
Keep the notices and messages you have, even if they contradict one another. Those differences may help explain what went wrong.
Wrong Apartments, Early Removals, and Illegal Lockouts
We handle wrongful eviction claims involving lockouts, removal of belongings, and evictions that went ahead when they should have been stopped. If any of the situations below sound familiar, contact us to discuss what happened.
The Wrong Apartment Was Emptied
You may have been current on rent and had no reason to expect an eviction. Then you returned home to find that a removal crew had cleared your apartment instead of another unit.
In these instances, we examine the rental address, unit number, court paperwork, and instructions given to the people carrying out the removal. We also look at what happened to your possessions and what management did after learning of the error.
You Were Removed Before a Warrant Was Issued
A landlord’s demand that you leave is not the same as a court-authorized eviction. Under Maryland law, a landlord generally must recover possession through a court-issued warrant of restitution executed by a sheriff or constable, unless the tenant has abandoned or surrendered the home.
In Baltimore City, the Sheriff’s Office handles the scheduling and execution of court-ordered evictions. If your landlord or a removal crew acted before a warrant was issued, tell us who arrived, what they said, and whether a sheriff was present.
Your Landlord Changed the Locks or Threatened to Force You Out
A landlord generally cannot use a lockout or deliberately interrupt essential services to force a tenant from an occupied home. Maryland law also restricts threats to take possession unlawfully. Limited exceptions apply, including certain temporary measures to secure an unsecured property.
Save messages threatening to change the locks, remove your belongings, or shut off utilities. Let us know whether the threat was carried out and whether you were forced to leave.
You Paid, but the Eviction Went Ahead
A payment may not reach the property manager, attorney, or people handling the eviction in time. If you paid the amount required to stop the eviction but were removed anyway, save your receipt, payment confirmation, and any acknowledgment from the landlord.
The amount, timing, and your right to stop the eviction through payment all matter. Learn more about eviction after paying rent in Maryland.
What If Your Landlord Says Your Belongings Were Abandoned?
After an apartment has been emptied, a landlord may say your property was abandoned and could be discarded. We need to understand the circumstances before accepting that explanation.
Baltimore City requires landlords to provide legal notice to their tenants in advance of an eviction. Baltimore City’s rules for property left during an eviction prohibits placing eviction belongings on public property or in a public right-of-way. A landlord’s claim that your apartment or belongings were abandoned does not automatically mean they could lawfully be discarded
That makes the events leading up to the removal important. Was the warrant for your apartment? Had it been executed when the belongings were taken? Were you still living there, and what had you told the landlord?
Not every loss of belongings during an eviction creates a claim. Our attorneys review how possession was taken, when the property was removed, and which legal protections apply.
If you can, photograph what remains and make a list of missing or damaged items. Tell us about family photographs, heirlooms, ashes of loved ones, and other possessions with personal significance, as well as furniture, clothing, and household goods.
Helping Tenants Throughout Baltimore City
Whitney, LLP represents tenants throughout Baltimore City. You can contact us whether you rented an apartment in a large complex, a unit in a converted rowhouse, or a home from a private landlord.
Our office is in Towson. Consultations and case preparation can be handled remotely, including through Zoom, so you do not need to travel to our office to begin the review.
About Our Wrongful Eviction Attorneys
Daniel W. Whitney, Jr. and Daniel W. Whitney, Sr. of Whitney, LLP
Whitney, LLP is a consumer protection and civil litigation firm based in Towson, representing tenants throughout Baltimore City and Maryland.
Daniel W. Whitney, Jr. built the firm’s wrongful eviction practice and has filed lawsuits against landlords across Maryland. He works alongside Daniel W. Whitney, Sr. and the firm’s attorneys to investigate unlawful evictions and pursue compensation for tenants.
Tell Us What Happened at Your Baltimore Rental
When you contact us, our intake staff will ask for a timeline and any records you have. Useful information includes your rental address and unit number, eviction notices, rent payment records, messages from management, and photographs of missing or damaged belongings.
If your paperwork was thrown away with your possessions, explain that to us. You do not need a complete set of documents before reaching out.
Once you provide the requested information, an attorney can generally evaluate the matter within about a week. We’ll follow up to discuss how we may be able to help and answer your questions about the next steps.
Call 410-583-8000 or contact Whitney, LLP online for a free wrongful eviction case evaluation.