Our client, a father of two, had been struggling to pay the rent for his family home over several months when his landlord took legal steps to file an eviction notice against him. The father waited until the very last day and after office hours to file a response to the eviction notice. Earlier that same day, the landlord had already asked the court to move forward with the eviction. Since neither the landlord nor the Judge had heard back from the tenant at that point, the Judge gave permission to remove the family from the home.
Unaware of the Judge's ruling, our client awaited the assignment of a hearing. Concerned about losing his home overnight, the client reached out to Florida Rural Legal Services, Inc. (FRLS) for legal assistance. FRLS is a non-profit law firm that provides free civil legal aid to qualified individuals, families, and vulnerable communities across 13 Florida counties and to farmworkers statewide.
FRLS gave the client counsel and advice at intake to file an emergency motion. However, the following morning the Judge denied his emergency motion and served the writ of possession, a court order that allows the landlord to take possession of the property. Unshaken, FRLS took immediate action by filing a motion to reconsider.
The judge granted FLRS’s motion to reconsider, dissolving the wit, and scheduling a hearing to determine rent. With FRLS's support, the landlord ultimately decided not to demand the client repay $6,900 in unpaid rent and agreed to let the family to remain in the home for an additional three weeks.
As demonstrated in this case, at FRLS we are dedicated to ensuring each client get the legal aid they deserve from start to finish. Whether you are dealing with landlord disputes or require legal advice, FRLS could be a resource to you.
For more information on how you may qualify for free legal services, please contact us at 1-888-582-3410.
About Florida Rural Legal Services (FRLS):
Florida Rural Legal Services, Inc. (FRLS) is a non-profit law firm that provides free civil legal aid to qualified individuals, families, and vulnerable communities across 13 Florida counties and to farmworkers statewide. Since 1966, FRLS has pursued justice by providing legal services in
housing law, family law, consumer protection, public benefits, elder law, disaster relief, education law, tax advocacy, and more, all at no cost to our clients. FRLS collaborates with community organizations and Pro Bono attorneys to deliver quality advocacy, outreach, and education designed to protect the rights of those in need. For over 50 years, FRLS has been a steadfast advocate for justice. Learn more at www.FRLS.org.