Illegal and Wrongful Eviction Lawyer in Maryland

Coming home to changed locks or an apartment emptied of your belongings can leave you wondering where to go, how to fight back, and what your legal rights are.

Whitney, LLP represents Maryland tenants who have already been wrongfully evicted. Whether your landlord removed your belongings, locked you out, evicted the wrong apartment, or proceeded with an eviction after you paid what you owed, we can evaluate what happened and whether you have a claim for compensation.

Our firm has recovered multiple six-figure settlements for Maryland tenants wrongfully evicted, including $275,000 in Baltimore City after a landlord evicted the wrong apartment and $225,000 after a tenant was evicted despite paying the balance owed. We help tenants fight back and hold landlords accountable for lost possessions, financial hardship, and emotional distress.

Call (410) 583-8000 or contact us online for a free wrongful eviction case evaluation. If we accept your case, there are no out-of-pocket expenses. Attorney fees and case expenses are paid from the compensation we recover, and Maryland law may also require the landlord to pay your attorney’s fees.

We Help Tenants After an Illegal Eviction

Our wrongful eviction practice focuses on pursuing compensation after an eviction has occurred. We represent residential tenants in apartment communities as well as tenants wrongfully evicted by private landlords.

Contact us if you experienced any of the following:

• Your landlord changed the locks and kept you out of your home.
• Your belongings were removed, discarded, stolen, or damaged during an eviction.
• The landlord or a removal company emptied the wrong apartment.
• You were evicted after paying the amount required to stop the eviction.
• Your landlord agreed to stop the eviction but let it go forward anyway.
• Your landlord forced you out before you were legally required to leave.
• Essential services were deliberately shut off to force you from your home.
• You were evicted in retaliation for complaining about conditions or reporting your landlord to a government agency.

You do not need to know which law was violated before contacting us. Tell us what happened, and we will review the circumstances. Many times our clients are not aware of all of their legal rights and how their landlord’s action violated multiple laws.

Is your eviction still scheduled after paying rent? If your landlord filed a failure to pay rent action against you even though you paid rent, you have claims against your landlord.  If your belongings were removed from your apartment even after making a rent payment, learn more about eviction after paying rent in Maryland.

Call us for a free evaluation. Landlords cannot file false legal actions to collect money not owed.

Wrongful Eviction Results for Maryland Tenants

An illegal eviction can cause losses that extend well beyond the cost of replacing furniture. These case examples show the different circumstances in which we have helped tenants recover compensation.  Of course, every case is different. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

$275,000 After the Landlord Evicted the Wrong Apartment

Our client returned from work to find her apartment empty. Her rent was paid, and she had received no eviction notices. After filing suit and obtaining records from the landlord and property removal company, Whitney, LLP recovered a $275,000 settlement.

Read about the mistaken-eviction case.

Watch your YouTube video on $275,000 settlement.

$225,000 After a Tenant Was Evicted Despite Paying Her Rent

Our client paid the balance owed after a rent judgment, but the landlord proceeded with an eviction weeks later. Her belongings were placed outside, where some were stolen or damaged. Whitney, LLP filed suit and recovered $225,000.

Read about the illegal eviction and property-removal case.

$140,000+ After a Landlord Let a Canceled Eviction Proceed

A Prince George’s County family’s landlord agreed to stop their eviction, then allowed it to go forward anyway. Whitney, LLP recovered more than $140,000 for the family.

Read about the Forestville illegal eviction settlement.

$70,000 After Property Was Removed Before the Lease Ended

Whitney, LLP recovered a $70,000 settlement for a tenant whose landlord removed property from the apartment before the agreed lease end date.

Read about the $70,000 wrongful eviction settlement.

Can You Sue Your Landlord for Wrongful Eviction?

Yes. You can pursue a claim if your landlord wrongfully removed you from your home or took possession without following the required legal process.  

Maryland law generally requires a landlord to recover possession through a court-issued warrant of restitution executed by a sheriff or constable, unless the tenant has abandoned or surrendered the property. It also prohibits lockouts and deliberate interruptions of essential services used to force tenants out. Separate protections prohibit a landlord from evicting a tenant in retaliation for complaints or for exercising legal rights.

The law also puts the cost of an illegal eviction on the landlord. A tenant who was illegally locked out or evicted can seek actual damages, including the value of lost property, temporary housing costs, and the emotional distress of the eviction. A court may also order the landlord to pay the tenant’s attorney’s fees.

A landlord’s explanation that the eviction was a “mistake” does not excuse it. Victims of mistaken evictions have the same legal rights as other tenants. Nor should you assume that owing rent means you have no rights. Even if you were behind on rent or stayed past the end of your lease, the landlord still must follow the law.

Our illegal eviction attorneys examine the eviction timeline, communications, payment history, and court records to determine whether we can help.

For additional background, the Maryland People’s Law Library explains tenants’ rights concerning illegal lockouts and interruptions of essential services.  This can help victims of illegal evictions understand their rights and get a better understanding of what laws Whitney, LLP’s illegal eviction lawyers are using to fight back for victims of landlord’s unlawful behavior.

What Compensation Can a Wrongful Eviction Claim Address?

The effects of an eviction are often still unfolding when someone first contacts us. You may be replacing basic necessities, paying for somewhere to stay, or discovering that possessions you cannot replace are gone.

Depending on the facts and the available legal claims, we may pursue compensation for:

• Lost or damaged belongings: Furniture, clothing, electronics, household goods, and other personal property.
• Financial losses: Hotel and temporary housing costs, storage fees, and other expenses connected to the eviction.
• Emotional distress: The impact of losing access to your home and having your possessions removed or destroyed.
• Loss of sentimental possessions: Family photographs, heirlooms, and other irreplaceable items whose loss deserves careful attention.
• Attorney’s fees: Where the law allows, the landlord may be ordered to pay them.

Don’t Let the Landlord Steer You to Small Claims Court

Some landlords tell tenants to “just file in small claims.” Small claims cases in Maryland are capped at $5,000, which is often far less than the property loss, housing costs, and emotional distress an illegal eviction causes. Talk with an attorney before choosing where to file.  Some landlords try to trick their tenants into signing away their claims for a few hundred or few thousand dollars immediately after the eviction – do not fall for their tricks.

A landlord may also offer money or a rent credit shortly after an eviction. That offer may not account for the full extent of your losses. Before agreeing to a settlement or signing a release, speak with an experienced wrongful eviction attorney so you do not sell yourself short.  

Watch Whitney, LLP’s YouTube video “Landlord Threw Out Your Belongings? Don’t Sign Their Release”

A free evaluation is an opportunity to learn whether Whitney, LLP’s wrongful eviction attorneys think you have a strong case, without relying on the landlord’s version of what happened.

What to Do After Your Belongings Have Been Removed

Start by documenting what you can. You do not need a complete set of records before reaching out.  Even if you do not have any property left because the landlord discarded it all, you still have a case.

• Take photographs or video. Capture the condition of your belongings, property left outside, damage, and anything else that shows what happened.
• Make a list of what is missing or damaged. Include everyday items and possessions with personal or sentimental significance.
• Save the records you have. Keep landlord messages, payment confirmations, eviction paperwork, and receipts for expenses related to the eviction.
• Contact our office. Tell us when the eviction happened and what you found, and we will go from there.

If receipts, paperwork, or photographs were lost during the eviction, tell us. Older photos showing your belongings and a written list can help us begin evaluating your losses.

How Whitney, LLP Builds a Wrongful Eviction Case

We file lawsuits against landlords and investigate what led to an illegal eviction. Filing suit allows us to obtain records from the landlord and any removal company, question the people involved under oath, and develop the evidence needed to support the claim.

We determine why the eviction was unlawful and how it affected you. We document property loss, financial consequences, emotional distress, and the circumstances surrounding missing sentimental possessions.

We will discuss potential representation with you after reviewing your information.

About Whitney, LLP Illegal Eviction Attorneys

Daniel W. Whitney, Jr. and Daniel W. Whitney, Sr. of Whitney, LLP

Daniel W. Whitney, Jr. is a partner at Whitney, LLP, a Towson consumer protection firm founded in 1992. He built the firm’s wrongful eviction practice, has filed illegal eviction lawsuits against landlords across Maryland, and has served as class counsel in multiple consumer protection class actions. He is a 2010 graduate of Widener University School of Law. He works alongside Daniel W. Whitney, Sr. and the firm’s attorneys on wrongful eviction cases.

What Happens When You Contact Us?

Our intake staff gathers the initial information. After you call or submit an inquiry, our staff will ask for details about your situation, including a timeline of events.

An attorney reviews the case. Once we receive the requested information, we can generally evaluate the matter and get back to you within about a week. Timing may vary depending on the information needed.

We discuss potential representation. If the matter is a fit for our firm, we explain the next steps and answer your questions about moving forward.

Wrongful eviction case evaluations are free. For accepted cases, attorney fees and expenses are paid from the recovery, with no out-of-pocket expenses.  Maryland law allows us to seek to have the other side pay our attorney’s fees as part of a settlement or judgment.  Consultations and case preparation can be handled remotely, including through Zoom.

Wrongful Eviction FAQs

Can my landlord change the locks if I owe rent?

No. Even if you are behind on rent or stayed past the end of your lease, a Maryland landlord generally cannot lock you out, remove your belongings, or shut off essential services to force you out. The landlord must go through the court process, and the eviction must be carried out by a sheriff or constable.

Can I still sue if the landlord says the eviction was a mistake?

Yes. Evicting the wrong apartment, or going forward with an eviction that should have been stopped, can still support a claim for compensation. Our $275,000 and $140,000 results both involved evictions the landlord should never have carried out.

How long do I have to file a wrongful eviction lawsuit?

Maryland generally allows three years to file a civil lawsuit, but the deadline for your claim depends on its facts. Do not wait. Evidence such as removal company records, photos, and witness memories is easier to preserve soon after the eviction.

What if the landlord says my belongings were “abandoned”?

A landlord calling your property abandoned does not end the question.  We have had multiple cases where landlords claimed that an apartment was abandoned as an excuse for removing property from an apartment before a lease was complete.  Whether belongings could lawfully be treated as abandoned depends on the specific circumstances, lease provisions  and on Maryland and local law. In one Baltimore City case, a federal appeals court found the city’s abandonment ordinance unconstitutional and upheld $186,000 in damages for tenants who lost nearly all of their possessions. Tell us what happened and we will review it.

Do I have to pay anything upfront?

No. Case evaluations are free, and accepted cases involve no out-of-pocket expenses. Attorney fees and expenses are paid from the compensation we recover, and in some cases the landlord may be ordered to pay attorney’s fees.

Can you help if my eviction hasn’t happened yet?

Our practice focuses on claims after an illegal eviction. If you are facing an eviction case or a scheduled eviction, contact Maryland’s Access to Counsel in Eviction program or the District Court Help Center for assistance. If an eviction is later carried out illegally, contact us.

Representing Wrongfully Evicted Tenants Across Maryland

Whitney, LLP serves tenants throughout Maryland from our Towson office. We represent tenants in Baltimore City and in Towson, Owings Mills, Dundalk, and other Baltimore County communities, as well as:

• Annapolis, Glen Burnie, and Anne Arundel County
• Rockville, Silver Spring, Potomac, Germantown, and other Montgomery County communities
• Forestville and Prince George’s County
• Ellicott City, Columbia, and Howard County
• Waldorf and Charles County
• Frederick and Hagerstown

Our statewide coverage also includes Carroll County, Garrett County, and Worcester County, including Ocean City.

You do not need to live near our office to request an evaluation or work with us remotely.

Discuss Your Wrongful Eviction With Whitney, LLP

If you have been locked out, had your belongings removed, or otherwise been wrongfully evicted in Maryland, tell us what happened.

You do not need to know what your case is worth or gather every document before calling. We will explain what information will help us evaluate your situation.

Call (410) 583-8000 or contact Whitney, LLP online for a free wrongful eviction case evaluation.