Eviction Defense
According to a recent Stanford study on evictions in Los Angeles, tenants that represent themselves in their own eviction cases have a success rate of less than 10%. Tenants that have an attorney representing them have a greater than 90% success rate. While every case is unique and there are never any guarantees, if we take your case, we will do everything in our power to get you a good outcome.
We provide full legal representation on a sliding scale, depending on need and your economic standing. We work primarily on cases at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse, but will occasionally make appearances at the Van Nuys Courthouse, Santa Monica Courthouse and Pasadena Courthouse.
Never lose hope…
Important: If you have been served with summons and complaint for an unlawful detainer (eviction), you MUST file an answer within 10 days or the plaintiff will obtain a default judgment against you. If you cannot find an attorney, there are several self-help centers available that can help you draft an answer to the unlawful detainer / eviction and provide you with a list of available resources.
(If you receive a courtesy notice from the court, stating an eviction has been filed against you, you absolutely should file an answer within 10 days or sooner. Some attorneys will give you bad advice and tell you to wait until you have actually been served. DON’T WAIT. File an answer immediately. Many times, the plaintiff will “sewer serve” the summons and complaint, meaning, they will pretend to serve it on you, then file a default judgment against you for not filing an answer. In these cases, you will receive a default against you and sheriff’s notice to vacate before you’re ever served any paperwork from the landlord.)
After you file an answer, you should start by thinking whether your preference is to fight to stay in your rental or negotiate a payout / settlement and move. We can discuss these options further, as well as the benefits and likelihood of either outcome. Typically, if you have an apartment with below market rent, it is generally better to fight to stay. (Repairs are legally mandatory and past due rent can often be negotiated.)
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Additional Information and Resources
Please note: Housing Justice Now is NOT affiliated with any of the following self-help centers or resources, nor can we guarantee their service. Use at your own risk. These are mentioned here only for informational purposes.
Stay Housed LA - Right to Counsel
Sign up to see if you qualify for a free attorney by visiting Stay Housed LA. Preference is given if you live in a priority zip code throughout the city and county of Los Angeles. (Even if you do not live in a priority zip code, you should still apply.)
Self-Help Centers
If you need a self-help center, the following are available to help you draft and file your answer (response) to your eviction.
Downtown Los Angeles
Stanley Mosk Courthouse
111 N. Hill Street, Room 115
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Van Nuys
Los Angeles Superior Court –East Building
6230 Sylmar Ave., Room 350
Van Nuys, CA 91401
Chatsworth
Los Angeles Superior Court
9425 Penfield Ave, Room 3700
Chatsworth, CA 91311
Santa Monica Courthouse
Superior Court, West District
1725 Main St., Room 210
Santa Monica, CA 90401
Pasadena
Los Angeles Superior Court
300 East Walnut Street, Room 300
Pasadena, CA 91101
Long Beach Courthouse
Superior Court, South District
275 Magnolia Ave., Rm. 3101
Long Beach, CA 90802
Torrance Courthouse
825 Maple Ave., Room 160
Torrance, CA 90503
Inglewood Courthouse
1 E Regent St., Room 107
Inglewood, CA 90301
Webinars, Workshops and Classes
The Eviction Defense Network (EDN) is a community-based nonprofit dedicated to stopping displacement and gentrification and to closing the access to justice gap for individuals and families facing eviction in Los Angeles County. They offer expanded self-help, including webinars, workshops and classes, all to help you fight your own eviction. If they see you putting in the work and they have an attorney available, EDN may step into your case if it ends up going to trial.
Other Legal Service Providers
Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California (AJSOCAL) is the leading civil rights advocate for the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. We combat discrimination, offer free legal services and workshops in Southern California to those who are low-income and everyone in need, and drive policy change from local to national levels. Rooted in the legacy of our immigrant forebears and fueled by modern advocacy, we remain steadfast in our pursuit of justice.“
1145 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90017
https://advancingjustice-la.org/
BASTA, Inc. / BASTA Universal!
Founded in 2005 by Daniel Bramzon, BASTA has four full-service offices dedicated to advocating for tenants' rights, preventing homelessness, and eliminating substandard housing.
Main Office
1545 Wilshire Blvd Suite 600
Los Angeles, CA 90017
(2I3) 736-5050
https://www.basta.org/basta-universal
BetTzedek
To achieve their vision of equitable access to justice for all, Bet Tzedek provides person-centered legal services that integrate with social support services, educate community members with the powerful knowledge of their legal rights, and uses our collective voice to reform systems.