After they are evicted, tenants claim apartment was uninhabitable for six years.
The Case
- Case Name: Carpano, et al. v. Navarro, et al.
- Court and Case Number: Los Angeles Superior Court / 23STCV30160
- Date of Verdict or Judgment: Thursday, June 04, 2026
- Date Action was Filed: Monday, December 11, 2023
- Type of Case: Negligence
- Judge or Arbitrator(s): Hon. Brock Hammond
- Plaintiffs:
Vilma Carpano, Jose Arevalo, Emilia Aguiliz, Fernanda Aguiliz
- Defendants:
Rafael Navarro, Florina Navarro
- Type of Result: Jury Verdict
The Result
- Gross Verdict or Award: Defense verdict
- Contributory/Comparative Negligence: None
- Economic Damages:
Plaintiffs demanded $400,000 and the jury awarded $0.
The Attorneys
- Attorney for the Plaintiff:
Friedman & Chapman, LLP by Geoffrey Bowen and Roy Diaz, Seal Beach.
- Attorney for the Defendant:
Gates, Gonter, Guy, Proudfoot, Muench by Alexandria Marie Saravia and Doug Guy.
The Experts
- Plaintiff's Technical Expert(s):
Joshua Shoemaker, microbiology.
Elba Romo, property management.
- Defendant's Technical Expert(s):
None.
Facts and Background
- Facts and Background:
Plaintiffs moved into the subject property in 2017. They were evicted in 2023.
- Plaintiff's Contentions:
Four plaintiffs contended they suffered from rat/mice infestation, mold, defective plumbing, unusable bathroom, broken windows and locks, torn and destroyed carpeting, bed bugs and uninhabitable conditions as of the time they moved into the subject property in 2017 until they were evicted in 2023.
Plaintiffs contended they suffered from embarrassment, humiliation, anxiety, and stress as a result of the alleged uninhabitable conditions they endured for six years.
- Defendant's Contentions:
That the action was a retaliatory claim made against the landlord defendants after plaintiffs were evicted in 2023 due to multiple lease violations. The subject property was habitable when plaintiffs moved in in 2017, defendant landlords responded to and remedied all complaints made by plaintiffs, maintained the property in a habitable condition throughout plaintiff's tenancy and disputed any and all habitability claims made by plaintiffs. Defendants responded to all complaints made by plaintiffs in a timely manner and dispute that the property was uninhabitable.
Special Damages
- Special Damages Claimed - Past Lost Earnings: $400,000
Demands and Offers
- Plaintiff §998 Demand: $149,998 for each plaintiff, totaling $599,992 two months prior to trial.