Eustis, FL Personal Injury Law Firms & Lawyers

Your landlord has the duty to comply with all housing, building and health codes and to keep the premises in a fit and habitable condition. These obligations are a condition upon his receipt of rent. If the ceiling condition is a violation of any of these codes and your landlord is not promptly repairing the problem, you may be entitled to withhold rent, or pay it into escrow, until he does so. However, you should consult with an attorney before withholding any rent as this may lead to an eviction if you are not authorized by law to do so, and not every repair is a code or habitability violation. Also, you should consider asking the local municipal housing inspector to inspect the premises for violations. If violations are found, the inspector will document them and order the landlord to fix them promptly; this may entitle you to reserve some or all of the rent until he does so. Caution: if the inspector finds the premises uninhabitable, he will also order you to move out until they are repaired. Although the municipality may provide you with assistance in finding (and in some cases, paying for - especially if you are in subsidized housing) temporary housing, this could result in even more disruption for your family. Of course, some landlords may retaliate against a tenant who reports problems to the local authorities, but the law prohibits such retaliation. Again, these are issues which you should discuss with an attorney, if possible, before taking any action which could have significant consequences. If you cannot afford an attorney you should try to contact a legal aid organization as many of them do provide advice or representation regarding low-income housing.

You have as mess on your hands that may cost you more to straighten out than to just pay the damage. It is probably best to pay the damage and sue your boyfriend in small claims court for the damage. He is liable for the damage. However, in SC, if you operate a motor vehicle or allow someone to operate your motor vehicle, you must have insurance. If you or someone with your permission causes an accident, the state can suspend you license until you pay the damages if your vehicle is uninsured. If you did not report the car stolen and press charges against him, they will assume he had your permission regardless of what you say now. Technically, you have a right to file a lawsuit to prove he had no permission, but it will likely cost you more in attorney's fees than just paying the damages. If you did report the car stolen and pressed charges, then that is another matter. You may have a shot at appealing the decision to suspend your license. Read the notice of suspension carefully, and if it explains a right to appeal, follow those instructions or consult an attorney.

You can sue both the drunk driver and the owner of the car. I just handled one of these and if the drunk driver gets convicted of DUI, its good for you and the insurance company will likely settle more easily than the ordinarily would.