Due to the inclement weather, the DC Courts will be operating under a condensed schedule beginning at 2:00 pm. Judicial Officers will determine if court proceedings will continue. Statutory courts will remain operational.
You can file a motion with the court asking the court to enter sanctions against the tenant. The cost for the motion is $10.
If the landlord sues the tenant for possession because the tenant owes rent, the landlord can also request that the tenant be required to pay the back rent and any other monies due, such as late fees. If the landlord makes this kind of request, he or she is asking for a money judgment.
In civil matters, a money judgment is a final disposition of a lawsuit with a monetary compensation.
Whether remote or in-person, the judge makes important announcements about what will happen in court and the parties' rights. After these announcements, the courtroom clerk calls roll and parties must answer that they are "present" and state their names. Failure of plaintiff participation may result in a default.
A judgment for possession of real property against the defendant gives the plaintiff the right to file a writ of restitution, which is a court document authorizing the eviction of the defendant under the supervision of the United States Marshals Service.
You may contact the Clerk's Office to determine your next steps in rescheduling your hearing.
You can contact the landlord and ask for an extension of time. If you are not able to work something out with the landlord, you can ask the court to give you more time. However, in most cases a judge will not change the dates that payments are due in a written payment plan, even if you have a very good reason for why you cannot pay on time.
If you cannot reach an agreement with your landlord, you can ask a court-trained mediator to help you work out an agreement. You also have the right to take your case in front of the judge. The judge cannot force the landlord to accept payment dates or other terms that the landlord does not agree to. But, if you have defenses to the landlord's claims, you can ask the court for a trial. However, if you do not have any defenses, the judge may enter a judgment against you.
What should I bring to my hearing? You should bring any and all information pertaining to your case and your hearing notice, inlcuding but not limited to, case number, personal identification (if not remote) and any evidence that is appropriate for the hearing. Examples of evidence that relate to your case may include: your lease, rent receipts, other receipts, ledgers, photos, emails, complaints, notices to vacate, notices to vacate or correct, notice to quit, nonpayment of rent notice, or anything else that will explain your side of the case.
Only landlords or others who want to evict a tenant or another occupant from their property can sue in Landlord and Tenant Court. A person or company seeking to evict a tenant or other occupant can file a Complaint for Possession in the Landlord and Tenant Clerk's Office. If a landlord only wants to sue for rent or other damages (but not possession of the property), the landlord must bring suit in Small Claims or the Civil Actions Branch. Tenants who wish to sue their landlords must bring suit in Small Claims or the Civil Actions Branch.
A money judgment may be entered: (1) by consent of the parties; (2) on the defendant's confession of liability before the court; (3) by summary judgment in favor of the plaintiff or defendant; (4) at the conclusion of a trial or other hearing, (5) by default if certain requirements are met. See Super. Ct. L&T Rule 14. The court may also enter a money judgment if plaintiff's process server personally served the defendant with the complaint and summons or if defendant has asserted a counterclaim. See Super Ct. L&T Rule 3 and 14.
