City Attorneys Office obtains judgment and injunction against landlord in tenant harassment case

In a significant tenant harassment case, the Santa Monica City Attorney's Office secured a stipulated judgment against landlord Nahid Jahanbin and her son, who managed the property. The court found that the defendants engaged in a campaign of harassment against a family of four, including illegal evictions and intimidation tactics aimed at forcing them from their rent-controlled home. The allegations included unlawful utility shut-offs, unauthorized entries, and filming tenants without consent. Represented by the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles and a private law firm, the tenants successfully defended themselves against four bad faith eviction attempts. The settlement mandated the defendants to pay $450,000, with a portion allocated to housing protection efforts in Santa Monica.

Additionally, they are required to hire a city-approved property manager and attend landlord-tenant training. City Attorney Doug Sloan highlighted the city's commitment to enforcing tenant protection laws to ensure dignity and stability for all families. The case underscores the importance of legal protections against tenant harassment in local housing markets.