Results
$900,000 Settlement Recovered for Fall Injuries
KVA recovered $900,000 for a claimant who was seriously injured from a three-story fall while a guest at a property.
Tenants v. Landlord
$900,000 Settlement for San Francisco Wrongful Eviction
KVA obtained a $900,000 settlement for four tenants who were wrongfully evicted from their San Francisco rent-controlled apartments due to water intrusion.
Tenants v. Landlord
$690,000+ Settlement for Oakland Wrongful Eviction
KVA obtained a $690,000+ settlement for tenants who were wrongfully evicted from their Oakland rent-controlled apartment.
Tenants v. Landlord
$500,000 Policy Limit Settlement for Apartment Fire
KVA obtained a $500,000 policy limit settlement for a couple who was forced from their rental property as the result of a building fire.
Personal Injury
$350,000 Recovered for Injured San Francisco Tenant
KVA recovered $350,000 for a tenant who was injured due to the poor condition of the stairs of his San Francisco apartment.
Tenants v. Landlord
$325,000 Settlement for Oakland Wrongful Eviction
KVA obtained a $325,000 settlement for two tenants who were wrongfully evicted from their Oakland rent-controlled apartment following a bad faith relative move-in eviction.
Tenants v. Landlord
$262,500 Settlement for San Francisco Wrongful Eviction
KVA obtained a $262,500 settlement after two tenants were constructively evicted from their illegal rental unit in San Francisco due to substandard conditions.
Tenants v. Landlord
$225,000 Settlement for San Francisco Wrongful Eviction
KVA recovered $225,000 for a tenant who was constructively evicted from her San Francisco rent-controlled apartment due to water intrusion and mold.
Tenants v. Landlord
$190,000 Recovered for San Francisco Tenants
KVA recovered $190,000 for two tenants who were wrongfully evicted from their San Francisco rent-controlled apartment due to bed bugs.
Tenants v. Landlord
$167,500 Settlement for Oakland Wrongful Eviction
KVA obtained a $167,500 settlement on behalf of a tenant who was constructively evicted from his Oakland rent-controlled apartment due to excessive noise issues.
Tenants v. Landlord
$167,500 Recovered for Injured San Francisco Pedestrian
KVA recovered $167,500 for a pedestrian who was hit by a truck while she was crossing a San Francisco intersection and suffered from shoulder and neck pain.
Tenants v. Landlord
$160,000 Settlement for San Francisco Wrongful Eviction
KVA obtained a $160,000 settlement for a tenant who was constructively evicted from his San Francisco rent-controlled apartment due to unsafe living conditions at his apartment and ongoing harassment, retaliation, and eviction threats from the landlord.
Tenants v. Landlord
$140,000 Recovered for Santa Clara County Habitability Lawsuit
KVA obtained a $140,000 settlement for three tenants in Santa Clara County who experienced significant habitability issues, including a rat infestation which remained unabated for months.
Tenants v. Landlord
$130,000 Settlement for Multiple Tenants in San Francisco County in Action Against Landlord for Harassment and Habitability Issues
Ms. Van Aken represented multiple tenants in an affirmative lawsuit against their landlord for the horrific living conditions they endured while living at the premises. In addition to the almost daily harassment they dealt with from their landlord and his family, the tenants dealt with significant substandard living conditions for which the landlord had been cited by the City’s Department of Building Inspection almost a dozen times. Ms. Van Aken was able to negotiate a favorable resolution for her clients, which included a sizable six figure settlement, despite the significant insurance coverage issues that were at play.
Tenants v. Landlord
$115,000 Settlement for Wrongful Eviction in Contra Costa County
KVA recovered $115,000 for a family in Contra Costa County after they were forcibly evicted from their apartment and their personal property was discarded. The premises had been kept in deplorable conditions, with a serious cockroach infestation, water leaks, plumbing issues, excessive trash, and no heat. Liability was highly disputed.
Tenants v. Landlord
$90,000 Settlement for Fremont Tenants
KVA obtained a $90,000 settlement for a family living in Fremont who experienced habitability issues throughout their tenancy, including exposure to raw sewage, toxic mold, mites, electrical hazards, and tripping hazards.
Eviction Defense
Judgment in Favor of Tenant Facing Eviction for Noise Complaints in Alameda County
Ms. Van Aken represented a client who was a 10-year tenant in a rent-controlled apartment unit. The landlord sought to evict the tenant on the basis that the tenant had been a nuisance to other tenants in the building. Ms. Van Aken filed a Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings on the basis that the Complaint was defective because it relied on a defective Notice of Termination of Tenancy. The trial judge agreed and entered judgment in favor of our client just before the start of trial.
Eviction Defense
Favorable Resolution for Client Defending an Owner Move In Eviction in San Francisco County
Ms. Kellogg successfully defended a San Francisco tenant who had resided in his rent-controlled apartment for nearly 20 years in an unlawful detainer (eviction) proceeding. The landlord was evicting the tenant on the basis that the owner’s relative wanted to move into the unit. Ms. Kellogg aggressively defended the case on the grounds that the eviction was done with ulterior motive and without honest intent. On the day of trial, Ms. Kellogg was able to negotiate a favorable resolution for her client, which included a monetary award substantially greater than the mandated relocation benefits, a waiver of rent, an additional four months living in the unit rent-free, and a dismissal of the unlawful detainer action.
Eviction Defense
Dismissal of Unlawful Detainer Action and Monetary Award for San Francisco Tenant Facing Eviction for Alleged Breach of Lease
Ms. Van Aken represented a long term tenant who lived in a rent-controlled San Francisco apartment for over 15 years. After a new owner purchased the property, the parties ran into conflict. The owner filed an unlawful detainer (eviction) complaint against our client. Ms. Van Aken aggressively defended the unlawful detainer and filed an affirmative Complaint against the owner for claims arising from the owner’s wrongful conduct. Our firm was able to reach a favorable resolution for our client, which included a dismissal of the eviction and a favorable monetary award for our client.
Eviction Defense
Dismissal of Unlawful Detainer Action for San Francisco Tenant Facing Eviction for Nuisance
Ms. Van Aken successfully defended a tenant against unlawful detainer (eviction) proceeding. The eviction was based on allegations that tenant had been smoking in the unit in violation of his lease agreement. After mounting an aggressive defense, plaintiff’s counsel reached out to negotiate a dismissal. The case was dismissed and our client was permitted to remain in his unit.
Eviction Defense
Reasonable Accommodation Request Granted for Disabled Tenant
Ms. Kellogg and Ms. Van Aken represented a husband, wife, and their disabled son in a matter against the owner of the building. The owner wanted to sell the building, and was ignoring clients’ requests to reasonably accommodate their son’s disability when scheduling open houses to show the property to prospective purchasers. Ms. Kellogg and Ms. Van Aken were able to prevent the owner from holding disruptive open houses, and the parties were able to negotiate a compromise to the benefit of the tenants.
Eviction Defense
Successful Buy-Out Negotiation for Long Term San Francisco Tenant
Ms. Kellogg was able to negotiate a buy-out for a long-term San Francisco tenant whose landlord was threatening to initiate an owner move-in eviction. Instead of going through the stressful process of an unlawful detainer proceeding and obtaining only minimal relocation benefits under the Rent Ordinance, Ms. Kellogg was able to negotiate a significant buy-out which allowed her client to comfortably move on her own terms.
Eviction Defense
Reasonable Accommodation Request Granted for Disabled Tenant
Ms. Kellogg and Ms. Van Aken represented a husband, wife, and their disabled son in a matter against the owner of the building. The owner wanted to sell the building, and was ignoring clients’ requests to reasonably accommodate their son’s disability when scheduling open houses to show the property to prospective purchasers. Ms. Kellogg and Ms. Van Aken were able to prevent the owner from holding disruptive open houses, and the parties were able to negotiate a compromise to the benefit of the tenants.
Eviction Defense
Reasonable Accommodation Request Granted for Tenant with Emotional Support Animal
Ms. Van Aken represented her client in a matter against the tenant’s property manager for unlawful housing discrimination. The tenant was disabled and was prescribed by his doctor a certified support dog to assist with his disability. The property manager initially refused client’s reasonable accommodation request. After educating the Property Manager on the applicable law, Ms. Van Aken got the reasonable accommodation request granted and our client was permitted to keep his support dog at the premises.
San Francisco Rent Board
Tenant’s Petition for Unlawful Rent Increase Granted and Landlord’s Petition for 1.21 Rent Increase Denied
Ms. Kellogg represented an individual and his family before the San Francisco Rent Board after his landlord attempted to increase his rent from $1,000 to $4,800 per month. The family had lived in their rent-controlled unit for over 20 years, and this was the second time the landlord had attempted to impose an unlawful rent increase. This time, the landlord claimed the rent increase was permitted under Rent Board Rules and Regulations 1.21 because the family no longer resided in the unit as their principal place of residence. After substantial briefing and hearing, the Rent Board granted client’s petition for unlawful rent increase and denied the landlord’s petition for an increase under Section 1.21.
Tenants v. Landlord
Negotiated Favorable Resolution for San Francisco Tenants Facing Significant Harassment by Landlord
Ms. Kellogg represented a husband and wife who had been residing in their Russian Hill rent-controlled apartment for 10 years. Their landlord was instituting a pattern of harassment in an attempt to coerce them to vacate their unit, including dismantling substantial portions of their unit, refusing to make repairs, and threatening to demolish portions of their apartment. Ms. Kellogg filed an affirmative lawsuit against the landlord and was able to negotiate a favorable settlement, force the landlord to make necessary repairs, and ensure that her clients could remain in their rent-controlled unit.
Personal Injury
Policy-Limits Settlement Award for Cyclist Involved in Collision with Motor Vehicle
Ms. Kellogg represented a young woman who was hit by a car in Oakland while she was riding her bicycle to work. She was hospitalized for severe injuries, including a broken pelvis, broken ribs, numerous broken bones in her face, and countless bruises, scrapes, lacerations, and abrasions. She required several surgeries, dental reconstruction, and physical therapy. Ms. Kellogg was able to obtain a policy-limits settlement award for her client as a result of the incident.
Personal Injury
Favorable Settlement Negotiated for Driver Involved in Rear-End Car Accident on Freeway
Ms. Kellogg represented a woman who was rear-ended by a large commercial freight truck on Highway 580 near Hayward and sustained significant neck, back and shoulder injuries. She sought emergency medical treatment and chiropractic care. Ms. Kellogg was able to negotiate a favorable five-figure resolution with the other party’s insurance company, as well as negotiate a significant lien reduction for her clients’ outstanding medical bills