Wiley Rein Team Successfully Settles Landlord/Tenant Dispute

Wiley Rein partner Bennett L. Ross and associate Steven Merlis successfully resolved a landlord/tenant eviction dispute out of DC’s Superior Court. The Legal Aid Society of Washington, DC requested Wiley Rein’s assistance when, in June 2009, our client was wrongfully evicted from his apartment after his landlord claimed, among other misrepresentations, that the client had passed away and was not paying rent.  Our client, who was a model tenant, lost all of his possessions and had no choice but to sleep on the floor for nearly a year.  Mr. Ross and Mr. Merlis filed suit on behalf of the client, alleging wrongful eviction, conversion and intentional infliction of emotional distress, among other claims.  Without any discovery necessary, the attorney team convinced our client’s landlord to settle the case for an amount nearly three times the client’s actual damages.  Former Wiley Rein associate Amanda Schwoerke also assisted with the successful representation of our client.