HKP Newsletter - July 2023

Manufactured Housing Settlements

? HKP, along with another defense firm, settled a major manufactured housing park failure to maintain case on the eve of trial following an earlier inclusive mediation. This case involved 95 mobilehome park residents suing the park owner and management on a variety of legal theories of nuisance, negligence, breach of statutes, and breach of the warranty of habitability. Moreover, the park was located within Los Angeles rent-controlled jurisdiction of the City’s Rent Stabilization Ordinance which, with COVID, state and county moratoriums presented challenges. Under the terms of the settlement, the case against the park was dismissed with prejudice.

? City passed an ordinance restricting statutory rental practices of client. The ordinance was passed due to pressure through a law firm acting in a pro bono capacity. A settlement was achieved wherein the ordinance was allowed to sunset. This settlement avoided costly litigation for our client and repealed the newly implemented rent control ordinances and the eviction moratorium.

Construction Law Victory

HKP represented a homeowner who hired the defendant to remodel his home. When problems arose during the construction, the homeowner discovered the defendant was not a licensed contractor. The homeowner then sued to recover all sums paid. The defendant claimed at trial that she was not a contractor (and thus did not need to be licensed), but rather a “project manager” who hired licensed contractors to perform the work. The Court found that the defendant’s scope of work fell squarely within the definition of “contractor” pursuant to the California Business and Professions Code and entered judgment against the defendant for all sums paid in the amount of $65,000.

New Associate Attorney at HKP

We are pleased to announce the addition of Jennifer D. Echegoyen to our law firm. Jennifer is an associate attorney who specializes in the areas of real estate and land use matters.

Jennifer received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Child Development and Family Studies from California State University, Long Beach in 2018, and her law degree from the University of La Verne, College of Law in 2021. During law school, she served as a judicial extern to the Honorable Steven D. Bromberg of the Orange County Superior Court and served as the Chief Articles Editor of the University of La Verne, Law Review.

“In less than two months, it’ll be six months since I started working as an associate attorney for Hart Kienle Pentecost. As a first-generation woman of color, it is often nerve-racking to enter the legal field as an attorney, as most often than not, you are the first attorney in your entire extended family. I have discussed with many attorneys who have been in practice for years who have stated that their first-year practicing was a treacherous time filled with regrets and frustration. However, I can confidently say that nothing can be further from the truth regarding my time thus far at HKP. I have had the opportunity to collaborate with attorneys and staff who have been extremely patient, kind, and knowledgeable. I look forward to many years of professional growth as an associate attorney with HKP.” - Jennifer Echegoyen, Associate Attorney, HKP

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