Forestville Illegal Eviction Lawyer – $140k Settlement

Whitney, LLP’s Forestville illegal eviction lawyers recovered over $140,000 in a wrongful eviction settlement for a family who was illegally evicted after their landlord agreed to stop the eviction, but actually allowed it to proceed.  Illegal evictions remain a serious problem for renters in Prince George’s County, and this illegal eviction in Forestville, Maryland shows just how far some landlords are willing to go.  Whitney, LLP’s Prince George’s County illegal eviction lawyers help tenants who are wrongfully evicted understand their legal rights and fight back against illegal evictions.

In this case, a young Prince George’s County family fell behind on rent after a job loss and a family health crisis. Like many renters, they applied for emergency rental assistance, but the application was denied. As their landlord pursued failure-to-pay-rent cases in Prince George’s County District Court, the family says they never received notice of several of the hearings, or of the warrants of restitution that followed.

Facing a possible eviction, the family went to court. At the eviction hearing, a settlement was reached in which the property manager agreed to stop the eviction and give the family more time to find a new place to live. The Court confirmed the agreement in a written order. A short time later, the landlord moved forward with the eviction anyway.  The family spent the following weeks without a home of their own, staying with relatives while they tried to recover.

After filing the lawsuit, Whitney, LLP recovered a $140,000+ illegal eviction settlement including property damages, compensation for emotional distress and attorney’s fees. If you were illegally evicted, you may be able to recover significant compensation

Contact Whitney, LLP for a Free Forestville Eviction Case Evaluation. at 410 583 8000, or use our Quick Contact Form.

Watch our YouTube Channel to learn about the consumer rights cases we handle and some of our results.

Daniel W. Whitney, Jr. and Daniel W. Whitney of Whitney, LLP – Representing victims of illegal evictions.

Whitney, LLP’s Past Illegal Eviction Results

This isn’t the first time Whitney, LLP’s Prince George’s County illegal eviction attorneys have fought back against a Maryland landlord and recovered compensation in an wrongful eviction lawsuit. Past results include:

• $275,000 illegal eviction settlement for a tenant whose apartment was emptied out after her landlord mistakenly executed an eviction on the wrong unit
• $70,000 illegal eviction settlement for a tenant whose remaining belongings were removed from his apartment before his lease’s move-out date had even arrived
• $225,000 illegal eviction settlement after a tenant was illegally evicted after an expired warrant of restitution

Every case is different, and past results don’t guarantee a future outcome. You can read about more of our results on the firm’s Maryland illegal eviction lawyer page and on the Whitney, LLP blog.

Illegal Eviction in Forestville, MD – Legal Rights

Maryland law has strict requirements that landlords must follow to evict a tenant. Under Md. Real Property Code § 8-216, a landlord cannot take back possession of a rental unit through “self-help.”  Self-help means changing the locks, physically removing a tenant’s belongings, or otherwise forcing a tenant out without a valid, currently-effective warrant of restitution.

When an illegal eviction occurs, victims may be entitled to recover compensation for:

• property damage
• emotional distress
• irreplaceable items of sentimental value
• lost wages from missed work
• hotel costs
• attorney’s fees
• punitive damages

Whitney, LLP’s wrongful and illegal eviction attorneys handle illegal eviction claims throughout Maryland.

Prince George’s County Illegal Eviction Lawyer: Nearby Communities We Serve

Forestville and the surrounding Prince George’s County communities have a high volume of failure-to-pay-rent filings in Maryland District Court, and with that volume comes a real risk of Forestville illegal evictions. As a Forestville illegal eviction lawyer, Whitney, LLP hears from tenants across the county facing the same pattern.

If you live in or near Forestville, District Heights, Suitland, Upper Marlboro, Camp Springs, Marlow Heights, Temple Hills, Hillcrest Heights, Clinton, Seat Pleasant, Capitol Heights, Forest Heights, or Landover and a landlord has locked you out, removed your belongings, or scheduled a sheriff’s eviction despite an agreement or court order saying otherwise, you may have valid legal claims.

What to Do If You Believe You Were Illegally Evicted

1. Document everything including photos of the eviction, your belongings, and any damage;
2. Save texts, emails, and any notices from the landlord or the court;
3. Don’t sign anything the landlord presents afterward without having it reviewed by an attorney;
4. Call Whitney, LLP’s illegal eviction lawyers for a Free Illegal Eviction Consultation.

Talk to Whitney, LLP’s Forestville Illegal Eviction Lawyers Today

If you’re in Forestville or anywhere else in Prince George’s County and believe you were illegally evicted, call us for a Free Illegal Eviction Consultation

Contact Whitney, LLP for a Free Prince George’s County Illegal Eviction Case Evaluation at 410 583 8000, or use our Quick Contact Form.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a “self-help” eviction in Maryland?

A self-help eviction is any attempt by a landlord to remove a tenant or the tenant’s belongings without a valid, currently-effective warrant of restitution issued by a Maryland court and executed by a sheriff or constable, including locking a tenant out, shutting off utilities, or removing belongings outside the proper legal process. It is prohibited by Maryland law.

Can a landlord evict me if a judge already stayed the eviction? What can I recover if I was illegally evicted in Maryland?

No. Once a Maryland court enters an order staying an eviction, that order controls until it expires or is modified by the court. A landlord who proceeds with an eviction anyway is not acting under a valid warrant and can be held liable for damages.

What can I recover if I was illegally evicted in Maryland?

Depending on the facts, tenants may recover actual damages (including lost or damaged property), attorney’s fees, emotional distress damages, and punitive damages.

Why hire a Forestville illegal eviction lawyer instead of handling it myself?

A landlord and its insurer will rarely offer fair compensation without a lawsuit behind it, and may try to settle illegal eviction claims for pennies on the dollar, such as offering $1,000, while the claim could be worth $50,000, $100,000 or more.  Whitney, LLP’s Prince George’s County illegal eviction lawyers knows how to maximize the value of illegal eviction claims.

Do you represent tenants outside Forestville?the the landlord moved forward

Yes. As Prince George’s County illegal eviction lawyers, Whitney, LLP represents tenants throughout the county, including District Heights, Suitland, Upper Marlboro, Camp Springs, Temple Hills, Hillcrest Heights, Clinton, Seat Pleasant, Capitol Heights, Forest Heights, and Landover.