Business Details
25 Years
experience
Tenant Rights Legal Advocates San Francisco
Founded in 2001, Greenstein & McDonald has established itself as a leading advocate for tenant rights in the San Francisco Bay Area. With over two decades of combined experience, our attorneys have secured landmark verdicts and settlements exceeding $83 million for tenants victimized by landlord misconduct. We specialize in litigating cases involving wrongful evictions, harassment, habitability violations, and discrimination, leveraging aggressive legal strategies and deep expertise in local and state housing laws.Our practice is built on a foundation of tenant justice, evidenced by our track record of representing over 20,000 clients and achieving some of California's largest tenant-related financial recoveries. The firm's attorneys bring extensive legal acumen from diverse backgrounds, including civil rights advocacy and appellate practice, ensuring clients receive comprehensive representation in complex housing disputes.
Services
Eviction Defense
Habitability Claims
Discrimination Lawsuits
Owner Move-In Fraud
Rent Control Violations
Harassment Cases
Security Deposit Disputes
Fire Victim Representation
Landlord Harassment
Wrongful Eviction
Details
- Year established: 2001
Highlights and features
- We have secured over $83,000,000 in tenant recoveries since 2001
- Successfully litigated California's largest single-unit tenant verdict ($3.5M)
- Exclusive focus on tenant rights with 25+ years of combined legal expertise
- Proven track record in complex multi-unit landlord misconduct cases
- Compassionate representation with documented success in appellate courts
What people say
Largest single-unit verdict
Record-breaking fire case settlement
25+ years of experience
Exclusive tenant representation
Documented success in appeals
Services
Wrongful Eviction Defense
Our legal team specializes in defending tenants against unjust eviction attempts. We leverage deep knowledge of California housing laws to challenge improper notices and represent clients in court proceedings. Our track record includes securing landmark verdicts like the $3.5 million award in the Duncan v. Anne Kihagi case. We focus on cases involving fraudulent owner move-ins, retaliatory evictions, and due process violations in San Francisco and surrounding counties.
Habitability Violations
We represent tenants living in substandard conditions caused by negligent landlords. Our firm prosecutes cases involving mold, lead paint exposure, structural failures, and other habitability issues. Through expert litigation, we've secured substantial settlements for tenants affected by defective conditions, including the $3.8 million Davis v. Busk case involving unsafe housing and environmental hazards in Northern California rental properties.
Landlord Harassment Cases
Our attorneys handle cases of landlord intimidation, illegal entries, and utility shut-offs designed to force tenant displacement. We utilize California Civil Code protections to pursue triple damages and punitive remedies for clients facing harassment. Our firm's investigative resources help document fraudulent owner move-in schemes and unlawful pressure tactics employed by unethical landlords in rent-controlled jurisdictions.
Discrimination Lawsuits
We litigate cases involving housing discrimination based on race, disability, and other protected classes. Our practice covers violations of the Unruh Civil Rights Act and Fair Employment Housing Act. We recover damages for tenants denied reasonable accommodations, subjected to segregated housing, or facing retaliatory treatment for asserting their legal rights in Bay Area jurisdictions.
Rent Control Violations
Our firm challenges illegal rent increases and advises tenants on rights under local ordinances. We handle disputes regarding improper CPI-based increases, retaliatory rent hikes, and market-rate conversion schemes. With expertise in San Francisco and Oakland rent control laws, we protect tenants from unlawful financial burdens and enforce statutory protections against discriminatory pricing practices.
People
Steven J. McDonald
Attorney
Co-founder with 25+ years of tenant rights experience. Secured landmark verdicts including $3.5M in the Duncan fire case. Focuses on wrongful eviction and harassment litigation.
Ariel Gershon
Attorney
Civil litigation specialist since 2006. Handles complex tenant cases involving habitability defects and discrimination. Previously worked in technology and labor advocacy fields.
Kelli Shields
Attorney
Environmental law specialist with 11+ years of tenant advocacy. Focuses on habitability, retaliation, and nuisance cases since joining the firm in 2012.
Kenneth M. Greenstein
Co-Founder
Civil rights attorney with 25+ years of tenant representation. Instrumental in securing multiple million-dollar settlements including the $6.7M Rivera fire case.
Questions
What constitutes a wrongful eviction in California?
Wrongful eviction occurs when landlords fail to follow legal procedures, lack valid 'just cause,' or retaliate against tenants asserting their rights under California Civil Code Section 1942.5.
How can tenants prove landlord harassment?
Document all incidents, report threats to police, maintain communication records, and consult our attorneys to build cases against illegal entries or utility shut-offs violating Civil Code Section 789.3.
What are acceptable rent increase limits?
Landlords must follow CPI guidelines in rent-controlled jurisdictions. State law requires 60-day notice for increases exceeding 10% of base rent within a 12-month period (California Civil Code Section 827).
Can tenants withhold rent for habitability issues?
Tenants may use 'repair and deduct' remedies for essential maintenance failures. Consult our firm before taking action to ensure compliance with specific statutory requirements governing this process.
What damages are available in discrimination cases?
Victims can recover actual damages, emotional distress compensation, punitive damages, and attorneys' fees under FEHA or Unruh Act violations, with minimum awards of $4,000-$25,000 depending on severity.
How do owner move-in evictions become fraudulent?
When landlords falsely claim personal occupancy to displace tenants, we investigate using private investigators to prove fraudulent intent and pursue legal remedies for wrongful eviction and housing loss.
