With Volunteer Attorney Help, Judgment Against Deployed Sailor Is Vacated

A Navy servicemember terminated his apartment lease early due to poor conditions in the apartment and crime in the area. The landlord filed a claim for unpaid rent and the servicemember paid the amount ordered. The next year, while the servicemember was deployed, the landlord filed another lawsuit. The servicemember did not receive notice nor or have any knowledge of the basis of the lawsuit. A judgment of over $5,000 was ordered against him, potentially in violation of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA), which was set to be garnished from his military pay. The ABA Military Pro Bono Project referred the soldier to a pro bono attorney who successfully was able to persuade the court to vacate the judgment and dismiss the wage garnishment against him.