Same-Day Legal Help: Eviction Case Dismissed for Harris County Family with Lone Star Legal Aid’s Terry O’Neill by Their Side

When C.B. arrived at Harris County Justice of the Peace Precinct 4, Place 2, he was facing eviction from the home he shared with his wife and their two children, including a two-month-old baby.

The family had fallen behind on rent after C.B.’s wife was placed on medical leave. Almost overnight, a household accustomed to relying on two incomes was forced to make ends meet on one. With a two-month-old baby and another child at home, the loss of that income put added pressure on an already demanding time for the family. As bills continued to come due, they fell behind on rent and soon faced the possibility of losing their home. With his family’s housing at stake, C.B. applied for same-day eviction defense representation from Lone Star Legal Aid.

LSLA regularly staffs eviction courts in Harris County so that eligible tenants facing eviction can connect with legal help at the courthouse, sometimes just before their cases are heard. That day, LSLA’s Eviction Right to Counsel Unit Intake Supervisor Deanna R. Sline and Staff Attorney Terry O’Neill were at the courthouse.

With little time before C.B.’s case was called, Sline and O’Neill worked together to quickly screen his application, process his case, and provide legal counseling.

At first, C.B. believed the central issue in his case was the amount of rent the landlord claimed he still owed. He told O’Neill that he had recently made a $5,000 payment to the landlord and did not understand how the landlord had calculated the remaining amount being sought through the eviction case. He wanted an opportunity to challenge those figures and make sure the payment he had already made was properly accounted for.

But O’Neill’s review went beyond the amount allegedly owed. He examined the eviction petition and the notice the landlord had provided to C.B. before filing the lawsuit, and identified potential legal issues in the landlord’s case. What C.B. initially understood as a dispute over money could also raise questions about whether the landlord had properly followed the legal requirements for pursuing an eviction. With the case about to be called, O’Neill prepared to represent C.B. and address those issues.

The bailiff called the case.

Before either side had a chance to speak, Judge Laryssa Korduba dismissed the eviction. Judge Korduba is known for carefully dissecting the cases that come before her, closely examining the facts, filings, and procedural requirements, and even identifying issues before the attorneys have a chance to raise them.

Although C.B. ultimately did not need O’Neill to argue his case, having an attorney by his side gave him and his family greater peace of mind as they entered court facing the possibility of eviction.

Tenants often arrive at court without an attorney or a clear understanding of their rights, while facing a court system that could determine whether they remain in their homes. By meeting eligible tenants where their eviction cases are being heard, LSLA provides legal information, counseling, and, when appropriate, representation at a critical moment.

For C.B., his wife, and their children, that day ended with the eviction case dismissed and their immediate housing preserved during an already difficult time.