Wrongful eviction suit reaches settlement
Settlement sends a message that there are serious consequences for violating the eviction moratorium.
HONOLULU, Hawaiʻi — A tenant who was evicted from his Oʻahu apartment has received $12,500 to settle a court case that alleged that the eviction violated the state eviction moratorium put in place by Governor David Ige.
A complaint filed by the tenant, Ezra Jeadrik, in state circuit court alleged that “the eviction was in violation of Hawaiʻi statutes and emergency proclamations barring evictions for failure to pay rent during the COVID-19 pandemic, and unnecessarily exposed Plaintiff, his family and others to a heightened risk of spreading the disease.”
“This never should have happened,” said Jeadrik. “I had my hours cut at my warehouse job and a family to support, but I kept paying all I could afford—two thirds of my rent.”
The settlement was reached in a mediation conducted by volunteer mediator Bob Hines of the Mediation Center of the Pacific. Jeadrik was represented by the Caitlin Humphreys of the Legal Aid Society of Hawaiʻi and Tom Helper of Lawyers for Equal Justice. The landlord denied committing any wrongdoing and denied that he was liable to Jeadrik.
The circuit court case number is 1CCV-20-0001483. The settlement of the case sends a message to both landlords and tenants that there are serious consequences for violating the COVID-19 eviction moratorium.
###
Lawyers for Equal Justice (LEJ) is a nonprofit law firm that advocates for low income residents of Hawaiʻi. The central mission of LEJ is to help our clients gain access to the resources, services and fair treatment that they need to realize their opportunities for self-achievement and economic security. Our cases change systems and policies to make justice, equality and opportunity available to everyone.
The Legal Aid Society of Hawaiʻi (LASH) is a public interest, nonprofit law firm dedicated to achieving fairness and justice through legal advocacy, outreach and education for those in need. Established in 1950, LASH has 11 offices statewide and over 100 staff members dedicated to achieving the vision of “Building a Just Society.”
