Home to the Naval Hospital, Bethesda, Maryland, is where presidents often go for their checkups. The area is one of the wealthier suburbs in the country and is in the midst of an economic boom. it is expected to grow even further as the local light rail line expands and brings more traffic to the area from Silver Spring.
This makes the area very attractive to renters. However, Bethesda, Potomac and Gaithersburg landlords do not always follow the laws that protect their tenants from illegal evictions. Some use such self-help measures as changing locks and trying to bully residents out of their homes. This is illegal and can be the basis of a eviction lawsuit against a landlord to recover compensation. The landlord-tenant eviction lawyers at Whitney, LLP, can help tenants dealing with these problems.
Here are reviews from some of our past clients, and here is a link to an article The Baltimore Sun published on an illegal eviction lawsuit our attorneys recently filed. Whitney, LLP’s wrongful eviction lawyers offer Legal Consultations, and our eviction clients pay no out of pocket costs or expenses. Call 410 583 8000, or use our Quick Contact Form, for help with your illegal eviction claims.
Maryland Eviction Laws for Tenants
State laws set forth tenant legal rights for eviction of Bethesda, North Potomac and Rockville residents. They prohibit landlords from acting on evictions on their own without a court order.
As a tenant, you have the right to a court proceeding in front of a judge. The landlord is not allowed to change the locks when it wants to. Instead, it must wait for the court to issue the order of eviction.
Even before the date of eviction, the tenant can usually prevent the action by paying back overdue rent. If an eviction court order is issued, the landlord must schedule an eviction with the sheriff present. When the landlord fails to follow these laws, you can file a lawsuit for wrongful eviction.
Can a Tenant Sue for a Wrongful Eviction in Bethesda, MD?
If you are wondering, can a tenant sue for a wrongful eviction, the answer is yes. The landlord has a contract with you. When they break it, you can file a lawsuit for illegal/wrongful eviction. Just like you have your obligations under the lease, so does your landlord.
When they fail to live up to what they promised you through an illegal eviction, they can be made to pay damages for an illegal eviction. You may also include other counts in your lawsuit, including assault, trespassing or any other illegal act committed by the landlord.
Tenant Legal Rights for Illegal Eviction
If your landlord has illegally evicted you, the first thing to do is contact a wrongful eviction attorney near me. The attorney will learn the facts of the case may file a lawsuit seeking compensation for the wrongful eviction. To begin the lawsuit, an official complaint must be filed.
The case could then proceed through discovery all the way to a trial. A trial in court would include witnesses, and the landlord could be called to testify. A judge or jury will hear your case, which can result in compensation for damages for the wrongful eviction.
Compensation for Illegal and Wrongful Eviction
A property owner could be ordered to pay various types of compensation for a wrongful eviction. First, the landlord could have to pay your costs of finding a new place to live. If there was any damage to your property during the eviction, that is also something the landlord will need to pay you for as part of the court order.
Since being evicted is stressful and traumatic, some defendants may have to pay damages for emotional distress. If the landlord’s behavior was bad enough, a jury may order punitive damages in your case.
Illegal Eviction Lawyer Near Me in Bethesda, MD
While landlords have power, there are checks on their ability to evict you. You do not have to sit idly by as the landlord kicks you out of your home in violation of the law.
Call Whitney, LLP, at (410) 583-8000 today, or contact us online to request a legal consultation so that you can learn more about how we can help. We can fight for you to recover compensation after a wrongful eviction, and there are no out-of-pocket fees or expenses for you to bear.