SAN FRANCISCO – The Eviction Defense Collaborative (“EDC”) – San Francisco’s primary eviction defense legal services agency – prevailed in its third jury trial victory since July 2013 when the verdict was announced on May 14. The win preserves the long-term home of a Spanish-speaking family that has lived in the Mission District for the past 19 years. The landlord accused them of not paying their rent – even though family repeatedly tried to pay the rent at issue. Their young children – who attend the local public schools and are intimately involved in their neighborhood community – have lived with rats and damaged flooring for years.
EDC’s lead trial counsel on the case, Deepa Varma, said “the jury didn’t want to evict this family once they found out about the deplorable conditions these kids were living in – no one should have to live like that.” The family was emotional after hearing the verdict. They said they didn’t know what they would have done if they were evicted. In this climate of rising rents and San Francisco’s affordability crisis, EDC is proud to stand with and fight for individuals and families who may not otherwise receive legal representation – typically 90% of tenants face their fast-paced eviction case without an attorney, representing themselves. If you would like more information about the EDC or want to donate/get involved, please visit our website at www.evictiondefense.org