Arena Law Offices, LLC and Attorney Arena have
experience in representing both tenants and landlords in
disputes. These cases involve evictions. Andrew Arena has
litigated evictions before courts. In one such case a client was
unlawfully evicted and Attorney Arena successfully sued the
landlord in Court, and obtained compensatory and punitive
damages for the client. The Client, that was evicted by a
landlord who changed the locks, and threw all of the family's
property in the yard and street This is an illegal eviction in
Wisconsin and is sometimes called a self help eviction. It is
important for a tenant to receive a proper eviction notice.
Attorney Andrew Arena has also represented several landlords
with difficult tenants. In one such case, the tenant was making
allegations of building code violations and retaliation in an
attempt to re-negotiate the lease. This case ended up in Circuit
Court and through Attorney Arena's investigation it was
determined that the tenants claims had no credibility. The case
was dismissed, and the tenant remained in the property for a
lengthy tenancy. The Tenant continued to pay the agreed upon
rent and failed to obtain a money judgment from the landlord.
It is important to be aware of recent changes in
landlord/tenant law. The legislature has recently made changes
regarding property condition disclosures by creating Wisconsin
Statute 704.08, which requires that the landlord provide a
standardized information check-in sheet that contains an
itemized description of the condition of the premises.
A tenant is within their rights to insist that the law be
followed in all regards. There are damages available for the
tenant, as a result of the Landlord failing to follow established
rules in the administrative code and State Statutes. Chapter 134
of the administrative code allows for these issues to be a
defense in an eviction action. Attorney Arena has experience
with all facets of landlord/tenant law, and ALO has represented
landlords, and tenants in these disputes.
One such client was a business owner that was being
evicted from the business after many years of operating in the
location. The landlord brought a law suit seeking money
damages. This case resulted in a trial with a favorable out
come for the client. Attorney Arena has also represented
property owners (usually landlords) regarding housing code
violations and Attorney Arena has defended landlords in
retaliation cases brought by their tenants.