Illegal Lockout

[dncook]

My landlord asked me to sign a document indicating she was terminating the lease as of Dec 31, 2007. I signed the document not knowing Maryland law requires landlords to give 60 days notice. I sent a certified letter asking for the 60 days to vacate. On December 31st my landlord contacted the police department and I was forced to leave the property by midnight. No court order was in place and no sherrif was at the scene. On January 1, 2008 while moving my belongings out of the home, the police officer & the landlord returned to the home and had my children removed from the property. I submitted a complaint against the officer and was advised by his superior it was a training issue and the officer did not know he should not have been involved in the dispute. I am scheduled to appear in court but scared I may loose my case based on me signing the document agreeing to vacate. Can someone give me advice? Thanks

 

[presutin]

The sticky point here is that you signed the letter allowing the landlord to terminate your lease. Read your lease carefully. There should be a clause there regarding notices by the landlord (confirm if there is a violation from her part there) and use that as part of the explaination to the judge that you were not given the 60 days notice that the law in the state of MD requires. Good luck!