A nightmare situation may have a happy ending for one Oregon man who has been fighting back against a bill from his landlord. The expense in question was a $287 charge from an electrician whom the landlord hired to replace an electrical outlet that had burnt out in Johan Spring’s unit.
To get the money, his landlord first sent the bill directly. When Spring refused to pay, his landlord then raised his rent by $100 a month, according to The Oregonian. However, the trial took an unexpected turn when the jury found Aetna Properties in violation of an Oregon law that protects renters from retaliation from their property managers and landlords.
Not only did the jury award Spring a hefty sum for his troubles, but the Oregon law that protected him in the first place doubled his award, earning Spring tens of thousands of dollars.
Now his landlord is in hot water and could be on the hook for a six-figure bill instead of the $287 that was originally needed to fix Spring’s problem.
Spring Was Awarded $16,000 by the Jury
According to The Oregonian, the jury originally awarded Spring $16,000 after finding that the property manager had violated the law. That award was doubled due to the rules of the law, which means Spring got a $32,000 payday after fighting back against his landlord.
Spring’s attorneys are now going after the landlord and looking to send an invoice for their legal bills over to the landlord to the tune of $225,000.
“Good for them,” one person commented on the YouTube video about the story. “Landlords too often take advantage of renters.”
“How insane? You own the building. The building has an issue the client has no hand in and you want the client to pay for it? Since when? How absolutely unethical,” another person wrote.
All States Have Some Kind of Landlord-Tenant Laws
While it’s unusual to hear about a renter getting such a big payout after winning a case against a landlord, these types of fights aren’t that uncommon.
According to the American Apartment Owners Association, every state has its own version of a landlord-tenant bill of rights, each with different civil codes or statutes. And while not every state may offer as robust protection (and benefits when tenants win) as Oregon does, this story serves as a good reminder that there are some legal protections out there.
If you feel that you’re being taken advantage of in your rental situation, you should research what kind of help your state offers and what your rights are.
The Oregonian reported that the attorney for Spring’s landlord sent emails to Spring’s representative before the trial, accusing the renter of having “a lower IQ” and saying that he would “absolutely destroy” him. Thanks to the protections offered by the state, it seems like Spring was able to turn the tables and stand up for himself instead.