SAN FRANCISCO – Former tenants of a San Francisco property allege that their unit was infested with rats.
Antoine Kaufman and Carine Roller-Kaufman filed a complaint on April 2 in the San Francisco County Superior Court against Carol Kuraoka and Does 1-30 alleging breach of the warranty of habitability, negligence and other counts.
According to the complaint, the plaintiffs were tenants at the defendants' property on 18th Avenue in San Francisco. They allege the property was infested with rats, the kitchen sink broke, the bathroom exhaust fan did not work and the living room heater broke. Carine Roller-Kaufman alleges she contacted Kuraoka about the rodent infestation in November 2016 and asked for a rent reduction in March 2017 because of construction work, which was denied. The suit states the plaintiffs later hired an exterminator and were reimbursed by the defendants.
The suit states the plaintiffs were informed by the defendant that she intended to move back into the property and that it was decided the plaintiffs' last day in the unit would be Jan. 31. The plaintiffs allege the defendant never moved into the unit but instead listed it for rent.
The plaintiffs hold Kuraoka and Does 1-30 responsible because the defendants allegedly failed to maintain unit in a habitable condition and failed to comply with San Francisco Rent Ordinance when endeavoring to recover possession.
The plaintiffs request a trial by jury and seek judgment against defendants; award general, special, contractual, statutory and punitive damages; interest; attorney's fees; expert witness fees; costs; trebling of damages; statutory penalties; and further relief as the court may deem just. They are represented by Tom H. Elke, Alexander M. Merchant and Catalina Munoz of Elke & Merchant LLP in San Francisco.
San Francisco County Superior Court case number CGC-18-565413