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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-5256SEP 0 $ ORCHARD APARTMENT ASSOCIATES, t/d/b/a ORCHARD APARTMENTS, Plaintiff Vo TANISHA DENNIS, Defendant : IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS : CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA : CIVIL ACTION - LAW ORDER AND NOW, this ~'~ day of SEPTEMBER, 2001, upon review of the annexed Complaint and the motion of Jordan D. Cunningham, Esquire, a hearing pursuant to the Model Expedited Eviction of Drug Traffickers Act, 35 P.S. §780- 164(a) is set for the ~ day of ~/~,~ , at //~/.M., in the Cumberland County Courthouse, Pennsylvania. this Defendant 2001, Courtroom NO. / , Square, Carlisle, Notice of service of this Order on shall be accomplished either through the Sheriff's office or by any competent adult by personal service. BY THE COURT:-- ORCHARD APARTMENT ASSOCIATES, t/d/b/a ORCHARD APARTMENTS, Plaintiff Vo TANI SHA DENNIS, Defendant : CUMBERLAND COUNTY, : CIVIL ACTION - LAW IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS PENNSYLVANIA COMPLAINT AND NOW comes the Plaintiff, ORCHARD APARTMENT ASSOCIATES, t/d/b/a ORCHARD APARTMENTS, by and through its attorneys, Cunningham & Chernicoff, P.C. and files this action at law and in support thereof avers the following: 1. Plaintiff, ORCHARD APARTMENT ASSOCIATES, t/d/b/a ORCHARD APARTMENTS, is a limited partnership which is registered with the Pennsylvania Department of State having a registered address of 2204 Cedar Run Drive, Camp Hill, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. 2. The Defendant, TANISHA DENNIS, is an adult individual who resides at 2202-D Cedar Run Drive Ext., Camp Hill, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. 3. At all times material to Plaintiff's cause of action, Plaintiff, ORCHARD APARTMENT ASSOCIATES, t/d/b/a ORC}{ARD APARTMENTS, has been the legal owner of the tract of land on which the building in which the Defendant resides is sited. 4. On or about February ll, 2000, Defendant executed a Lease Agreement by the terms of which the Defendant leased from the Plaintiff a residential apartment, 2202-D Cedar Run Drive Ext., Camp Hill, cumberland County, Pennsylvania for a term to expire on March 31, 2001 , after which initial term, the lease continued on successive terms for one (1) month each pursuant to Lease Rider. Defendant occupies an apartment unit which is subsidized under federal housing program, generally known as Section 8. true Cedar a A and correct copy of the Lease Agreement for 2202-D Run Drive Ext., Camp Hill, Cumberland County, 2 Pennsylvania is attached hereto, made part hereof, and is marked as Plaintiff's Exhibit "P-l". 5. At all belief and therefore Defendant's boyfriend, times relevant hereto, Plaintiff is of the avers that Ricky Carroll, the was a person who was a guest and/or resided, with Defendant, at Defendant's apartment unit and with her consent, and is a person over whom Defendant had control. 6. On August 11, 2001, the Lower Allen Township Police responded to a county request to search for a silver Cadillac automobile owned by a Ricky Carroll. Mr. Carroll was suspected of just having been involved in a robbery in Swatara Township. The vehicle owned by Mr. Carroll was discovered by the Lower Allen Township Police parked in a no parking zone at Orchard Apartments, just outside of the Defendant's apartment. The Lower Allen Township Police Department reported the discovery. At that time, the Lower Allen Township Police was further advised by the City of Harrisburg Police there was an outstanding warrant for the arrest of Mr. Carroll, for a different robbery, and were requested to execute the warrant. was being observed, a apartment was obtained. a search warrant, the While Mr. Carroll's car search warrant for Defendant's Upon obtaining the execution of Lower Allen Township Police Department executed the search warrant and arrest warrant and discovered Mr. Carroll and Defendant inside Defendant's apartment. While processing Mr. Carroll, the Defendant and the other occupants of Defendant's apartment, crack cocaine, a controlled substance, as defined in Section 2 of the Act of April 14, 1972 (P.L. 233, No. 64), was discovered in the master bedroom of the apartment unit. The crack cocaine was of a quantity and packaged in such a way as to support a finding that either Mr. Carroll and/or Defendant possessed the same with the intent to sell and distribute the controlled substance or, in the alternative, were involved in a conspiracy to commit such an act. 7. The crack cocaine and a marijuana "blunt" seized by the Lower Allen Township Police Department, tested, and a positive result was obtained. were field 4 8. The Defendant agreed to abide by the following terms set forth in the Lease Agreement: 13. GENERAL RESTRICTIONS: The Tenant must live in the unit and the unit must be the Tenant's only place of residence. The Tenant shall use the premises only as a private dwelling for himself/ herself and the individuals listed on the Certification and Recertification of Tenant Eliaibilitv. The Tenant agrees to permit other individuals to reside in the unit only after obtaining the prior written approval of the Landlord. The Tenant agrees not to: (b) use the unit for unlawful purposes; (c) engage in or permit unlawful activities in the unit, in the common areas or on the project grounds; (f) Notwithstanding any other provision of this lease, the Tenant, members of the Tenant's household, guests of Tenant and other persons under Tenant's control shall not engage in unlawful activity, including drug-related criminal activity, in the Tenant's unit or on the project premises, and such unlawful activity shall be cause for termination of tenancy. -Drug-related criminal activity" means the illegal manufacture, sale, distribution, use or possession of a controlled substance as defined in Section 102 of the United States Controlled Substances Act, 21 U.S. Code Section 802. Criminal conviction under Federal, state or local law shall not be a precondition for termination of tenancy. COUNT I - PETITION PURSUANT TO MODEL EXPEDITED EVICTION OF DRUG TRAFFICKERS ACT 9. Plaintiffs incorporates Paragraphs i through 8 of the Complaint as if more fully set forth herein. 10. Plaintiff is a landlord who has standing under Section 155 of the Model Expedited Eviction of Drug Traffickers Act (hereinafter referred to as "Act"). 35 P.S. §780-155. 11. Plaintiff is of the belief and therefore avers that Defendant's guest and/or co-tenant, on August 11, 2001 was involved in drug-related criminal activity on or within the immediate vicinity of the leased residential premises leased to the Defendant. Additionally, Plaintiff is of the opinion that the individual rental unit was used by the Defendant and her guest and/or co-tenant in a way to further or promote drug-related criminal activity. 12. Plaintiff seeks the jurisdiction of the Court and the expedited proceedings provisions of the Act and 6 requests a hearing on this matter be heard within fifteen (15) days of the date of the filing of the Complaint. 13. Plaintiff is of the opinion and therefore avers that it has set forth adequate grounds for the Court to enter an Order of Eviction and issue a removal Order as against the Defendant, Tanisha Dennis and Ricky Carroll, and all other members of her family. 35 P.S. §780-164 and §780-156(b). WHEREFORE, your Plaintiff respectfully requests this Honorable Court to make a finding of grounds for complete eviction, enter an Order of complete eviction, and issue a removal Order to be executed by the appropriate law enforcement agency or the Sheriff's Office of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. COUNT II - IN EJECTMENT 14. Plaintiff incorporates Paragraphs i through 13 of the Complaint as if more fully set forth herein. 7 15. Plaintiff's agent, Debbie Anstine, after a total review of Defendant's history, reached a decision to terminate the Defendant's Lease Agreement and/or not renew the Defendant's Lease Agreement for the following reason: (a) As a result of Defendant and/or guest and co-tenant, on August ll, 2001, having directly possessed, stored, distributed, transferred, used, and sold or conspired to possess, store distribute, transfer, use and sell in or about the immediate vicinity of her apartment a controlled substance which, in the opinion of the Plaintiff's agent, represents a substantial violation of the terms of the Lease Agreement, specifically, Paragraphs 13(b), 13(c) and 13(f), HUD Regulations, specifically 4-18 of the HUD Technical Handbook, Transmittal 4350.3, and the Pennsylvania Landlord and Tenant Act, all of which constitutes a material noncompliance with the terms of the Lease Agreement as defined 8 under HUD Regulations and Paragraph 23 of the Lease Agreement. 16. Defendant, although requested to do so by the Plaintiff, has refused to surrender the premises located at 2202-D Cedar Run Drive Ext., Camp Hill, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, to the Plaintiff and has since the time that she received the Notice to Quit has continued to remain in possession of said premises. 17. The Plaintiff has not defaulted in its responsi- bility to provide a habitable premises to the Defendant and is of the belief and therefore avers that the premises being occupied by the Defendant are in such a state as not to violate the implied warranty of habitability owed by the Plaintiff to the Defendant. WHEREFORE, the Plaintiff demands entry of judgment against the Defendant, Tanisha Dennis and Ricky Carroll and in favor of the Plaintiff on the issue of possession of the premises known and numbered as 2202-D Cedar Run Drive Ext., Camp Hill, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. Date: September 6, 2001 Respectfully submitted, CUNNINGHAM & CHERNICOFF, P.C. -//~dan~'D /~nningham, Esquire 44 2320 ~orth Second Street P. O. Box 60457 Harrisburg, PA 17106-0457 Telephone: (717) 238-6570 (Attorneys for Plaintiff) 10 FROM .: IRM AT ORCHARD APTS FAX NO. : 7177~0932~ Sap. 06 2~1 Oi:O1PM Pi SE~-06-2~1 15; 17 X, De~ie Ans~in~, site Manager00~chard A~artm~nte, a=e t~e an~ correc~ =o the ~est o~ my kn~ledge, ~fo~icn an~ ~lle~. I ~erS~ ~hat ~alse 8ta=ements he=~ are made s~jec= =o ~ p~lties o~ 18 Pa. C.S.A. S4904, =ela~l~ =o ~n~ falsi~ica~ ~o au~hori~ies. o~char~ A~&~cmen~ S TOTAL P.OI ~P-06-2001 15:25 7177~9323 95X P.01 E X H I B I T 'P-i' 1. PARTIES AND DWELLING UNIT: The parties to this Agreemen~ are , ~{[~SIDENTIAL LEASE AGREEMEN3 ' ORCHARD APARTMENTS to as the Landlord, and DENN I S r TAN I SEA asthe~nant. TheLandlord~ases{othe~n~lunitnumber 2202-D CEDAE RUN tocaledal 2201 CEDAE RUN DRIVE, CAMPHILL, PA Tn~' ORCHARD APARTMENTS LENGTH OFTIME (TERM): The ihilial tore of this Agreemenl shall begin on MARCH 31, 2001 ct one MONTH RENT: 19.00 FEBRUARY 11,2000 ior the partial month ending on 2 -- 29 - 2000 . After that. Tenant agrees ID pay a rent of $ 31.00 pe, month. Th[s amount is due on the FIRST day ol the mon~h at 2204 CEDAR RUN DR. CAMPHILL PA 17011 RENTAL OFFICE · remains un pad dung the month. The Landlord may n(3t t~rminato this Agreement io~ the failure ~ my ~at..e charges, b~l may ~erminate this ~ in, lift ~1 6. CONDITION OF DWELLfNG UNIT: By signing this Agreement, the Tenant acknowledges Ihat the unit is sale. clean and in gc~:J condition. The Tenant agrees that all appliances and equipmenl in the unil are in good working Order, except as described o,1 the ~ntt Ins~ecfim~ Re.ri which is Aitachmmlt NO. 2 to this Agreement. The Tenant also agrees that Ihe Landlord has made no promises to decorate, alter, repair o~ imp'ova the unit, except as lisled On Ihe Unit In~r3ectton Rem3rt 7, CHARGES FOR UTILmES At, ID SERVICES: The ioUOWlng cha~ts describe how the cost el utilities and services related to occupancy ot the uni~ will pa paid. The Tenant agrees that these charts accur aleiy deSCribe the utililies ami services paid by the Landlord and lhose paid by tl~e Tenant. a. The Tenanl must pay tot the utilities in column [1 ). Payments should be made directly to the appropriate utility company. The items in column (1) X X 8. SECURITY DEPOSITS: ~/pe of Utility Heat .................................................... bghts, Electdc .................................... Waler .................................................. Other (Spa°ly) Trash. Sewage .......... Phone .................................................. All Utility Hook-ups ............................ {2) Put 'X" by any Utility Included In Tenant Rent 13. GENERAL RESTRICTIONS: The Tenant must live in the unit and the unit must be the Tenant's only ;~ace of tesKlence. The Tsna~t shat) use ~he premises only as a prh~ate RULES: 28. SIGNATURES: TENANT Dale Signed Dale S~gned LANOLORD~ORCHARO APARTMENTS By: 3[R-203 PIIFA 5/82 4/98 R~NEWAL TO RESIDENTIAL LEASE AGREEMENT TUIS RENEWAL TO THE Residential Lease Agreement (Lease) is made this ,~TC~/day of .~(~ , 200! , by and between NOW THEREFORE, IN CONSIDEI~ATION of the Landlord entering into tile Residential Lease Agreement with Tenant, the independent promises and covenants of each to the other~and the rent reserved, and intending to be legally bound, Landlord and Tenant enter into this Renewal to the Residential Lease Agreement and agree as follows: 1. Tenant, upon signing this Renewal, agrees that the term of the .Residential Lease Agreement shall be for (1) year beginning on the day of ~/~/ 200~ and ending on the ~C~day of ~.-c~,~- / L~.~y. ~'~; , or until terminated according to the terms and conditions of'the Residential Lease Agreement. MONTH TO MONTH iI 2. Tenant, in the event he desires to terminate the Residential Lease Agreement, shall tender to the laudlord written notice of Tenant's desire to vacate the premises aud said notice shall be tendered to the landlord at least thirty (30) days prior to the date Tenant intends to vacate the premises. If Tenant fails to tender the required thirty (30) day written notice, he shall be liable for the monthly renta~ payment for tbat thirty (30! day period of time together with any other damages provided for in the Residential Apartment Lease. 3. Tenant and Landlord agree that upon signing this Reuewal, the monthly rental amount for Rental Unit No. ~ shall be $ Of the'total rent, $ ~-'~ shall be payable by the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency as housing assistance payments on behalf of the Tenant and $ '~c~~ shall be payable by the Tenant in the following manner: (a) $ /~/~.~o as the estimated monthly utility cost for electricity. The Tenant i~ responsible for paying the apartment electric bill to the utility company. (bi as the monthly rental payment to the Landlord. These amounts shall be subject to change by reason of changes in the Tenaut's family income, family composition, or extent of exceptional medical or other unusual of ]lousing and Urban Development; or by reason of adjustment by the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency or any applicable Allowance for Utilities and Other Services. Any such change shall be effective as provided for in the Renewal. IN WITNESS WHEREOF Tenant and Landlord have hereunto set their and year first above wri -eh. hands and seal~ all as of tile day ~ year first above ~ Y~Reside~anager (seal} 22O4 CEDAR RUN DRIVE EX'TI~ID£D CAMP HILL PA 17011 (717) 763-0937 FAX (717) 730-9323 TDD (800) 497-3843 NON-INCOME AFFIDAVIT I, -- I ~,~i '~,,.~, - 't q~ , residing at; 22 Cedar Run Drive, Camp Hill, PA 17011, do hereby swear and affirm that I DO NOT have mTy income. This includes but is not limitedSo income from any of the following: 1. Wages, Public Assistance/Welfare (ADC, OR, etc.), Social Security, SSI, etc.; 2. Child Support or Alimony. 3. Regular monetary gifts from family or friends, etc.; 4. Assets (homes, stocks, etc.; this includes inherited property); 5. Interest income from Savings, Checking, Christmas Club and other bank accounts, IRA's, Certificates of Deposit, Money Market Funds, Credit Unions, etc.; 6. U.S. Savings Bonds, Stocks or Bonds of any kind; 7. Pensions, Annuities, Retirement Funds, etc. (this includes benefits you may receive from being a beneficiary of a life insurance or retirement plan); 8. Real Estate Property, etc.; : 9. ANY INCOME, EARNED OR UNEARNED. WARNING: Section 1001 of Title 18 of the U.S. code makes it a criminal offense to make willful false statements or misrepresentation of any material fact involving the use or obtaining of Federal Funds. Also, Paragraph 25 of your Lease Agreement states: "Knowingly giving the landlord false information regarding income or other factors considered in determining tenant's eligibility and rent is a material noncompliance with the lease, subject to termination of tenancy." ResidentfApplicant Signature Signed this, the ~=7~cl~'day of ~'~:~Dct.t~-{~._~ ,2001. READ THIS BEFORE YOU COMPLETE AND SIGN THIS FORM. HUD,-50059 PRIVACY ACT STATEMENT. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is authorized to collect this information by the U.S. Housing Act of 1937, as amended (42 U.S.C. 1437 et. Seq.); the Housing and Urban-rural Recovery Act of 1983 (P.L. 98-181); the Housing and Community Development Technical Amendments of 1984 (P.L. 98-479); and by the Housing and Community Development Act of 1987 (42 U.S.C. 3543). The information is being collected by HUD to determine an applicant's eligibility, the recommended unit size, and the amount the tenant(s) must pay toward rent and 'utilities. HUD uses this information to assist in managing certain HUD properties, to protect the Government's financial interest, and to verify the accuracy of the information furnished. HUD or a Public Housing Authority (PHA) may conduct a computer match to verify the information you provide. This information may be released to appropriate Federal, State, and local agencies, when relevant, and to civil, criminal, or regulatory investigators and prosecutors. However, the information will not be otherwise disclosed or released outside of HUD, except as permitted or required by law. You must provide all of the information requested, including' the Social Security Number (SSNs) you, and all other household family members age six (6) years and older is mandatory; not providing the SSNs will affect your eligibility_ Failure to provide any information may result in a delay or rejection of your eligibility approval. TENANT(s)' CERTIFICATION. I/We certify that the information in Parts II, III, and IV of this form are tree and complete to the best of my/our knowledge and belief. I/We understand that I/We can be fined up to $10,000, or imprisoned' up to five years, or lose the subsidy HUD pays and have my/our rent increased, if VWe furnish false or incomplete information. OWNER'S CERTIFICATION. I certify that this Tenant's eligibility, rent and assistance payment have been computed in accordance with HUD's regulations and administrative procedures and that ~11 required verifications were obtained. WARNING TO OWNERS AND TENANTS. By signing in part VIII of this form, you axe agreeing with the applicable Certification. FALSE CLAIMS STATEMENT. Warning: U.S. Code, Title 31. Section 3729, False Claims, provides a civil penalty of not less than $5,000 and not more than $10,000, plus 3 times the amount of damages for any person who knowingly presents, or causes to be presented, a false or fraudulent claim; or who knowingly makes, or caused to be used, a false record or statement; or conspires to defraud the Government by getting a false or fraudulent claim allowed or paid. PUBLIC REPORTING BURDEN. The reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing date sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the Reports Management Officer, Office of Information Policies and Systems, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Washington, D.C. 20410-3600; and to the Office of Management and Budget, Paperwork Reduction Project (1502-0204), Washington, D.C. 20503. Do not send this completed form to either of these addresses. Tenant Signature Date Form HUD-50059 (8/87) Ref. Handbook 4350.3 %% ORCHARD APARTMENT, : t/d/b/a ORCHARD APARTMENTS, : Plaintiff : TANISHADENNIS Defendant AND NOW, IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA : CIVIL ACTION - LAW : : 01-5256 CIVIL TERM this 24th day of September, 2001, upon consideration of the complaint filed in the above-captioned matter and following a hearing, the record is declared closed and the matter is taken under advisement. Jordan D. Cunningham, Esquire 2320 North Second Street Harrisburg, PA 17110 For the Plaintiff Tanisha Dennis, Defendant Pro Se 2202 D Cedar Run Drive Extended Camp Hill, PA 17011 pcb By the Court, IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA ORCHARD APARTMENT ASSOCIATES, t/d/b/a ORCHARD APARTMENTS, Plaintiff TANISHA DENNIS, Defendant NO. 01-5256 CIVIL ACTION - LAW ORDER AND NOW, this .~__~day of September, 2001, after hearing having been held on Plaintiff's Complaint filed pursuant to the Model Expedited Eviction of Drug Traffickers Act, judgment in £avor of Plaintiff, Orchard Apartment Associates t/d/b/a Orchard Apartments, and against Defendant, Tanisha Dennis, for possession of the premises known and numbered as 2202-D Cedar Run Drive Ext., Camp Hill, Lower Allen Township, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania is hereby GRANTED. Defendant and all members of her household are completely evicted from the premises known and numbered as 2202-D Cedar Run Drive Ext., Camp Hill, Lower Allen Township, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. The Prothonotary is hereby directed to accept and docket a Praecipe for Writ of Possession and transmit the Writ of Possession to the SheriffofCumberland County. The Sheriff of Cumberland County is ~:.rcet~ to effect the eviction of the Defendant and all members of her household immediately. The Sheriffshall serve the Writ of Possession on the Defendant either by personal service or by posting the Writ of Possession on the most public or conspicuous portion of the premises known and numbered as 2202-D Cedar Run Drive Ext., Camp Hill, Lower Allen Township, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. BY THE COURT: ff' '~/ ' ' J' 'C~ 2 SHERIFF'S RETURN - CASE NO: 2001-05256 p COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA: COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND ORCHARD APARTMENTS ASSOCIATES VS DENNIS TANI SHA REGULAR RICHARD SMITH , Sheriff or Deputy Sheriff of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, who being duly sworn according to says, the within COMPLAINT & NOTICE was served upon DENNIS TANISHA the law, DEFENDANT , at .0018:10 HOURS, on the 17th day of September, 2001 at 2202-D CEDAR RUN DRIVE CAMP HILL, PA 17011 TANI SMA DENNIS by handin9 to a true and attested copy of COMPLAINT & NOTICE together with and at the same time directing Her attention to the contents thereof. Sheriff.s Costs: Docketing 18.00 Service 10.40 Affidavit .00 Surcharge 10.00 .00 38.40 Sworn and Subscribed to before me this 2 ~ ~-~ day of So Answers: R. Thomas Kline~'~ =---~ 09/18/2001 CUNNINGHAM &~ICOFF /~-puty Sheriff