OAKLAND, Calif. (CN) - Fidelity National Financial is illegally evicting people without cause because empty homes are easier to sell, the state and the City of Oakland claim in Alameda County Court. The state and city accuse Smart Choice Realty of doing the same thing, in a separate complaint.
Defendants in the Fidelity National case are Fidelity National Financial, Fidelity National Title Group, Servicelink, Assetlink, Staci Campos, and Marco Rodriguez. Also sued in the Smart Choice case is Percy Cheung.
The state claims that "tenants are ousted from their homes by defendants because a vacant home is more marketable and easier to sell. Defendants' violations of the ordinance include but are not limited to: 1) initiation of the eviction process without a specific just cause ground; 2) providing written eviction notices that do not state a just cause ground; 3) failing to advise tenants of the Just Cause ordinance or the tenant's right to seek advice from the Oakland Rent Board; and 4) failing to file copies of eviction notices served on the tenant with the Oakland Rent Board."
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