Volunteer Attorney Reaches Favorable Outcome for Sailor in Landlord-Tenant Dispute

A Navy servicemember entered into a lease agreement in which all utilities were to be included in the rent payment. However, after the sailor signed the lease agreement, her landlord informed her that an additional sum was due each month for utilities. The sailor visited a military legal assistance office, and her JAG reviewed the lease and discovered that there were also other provisions in the lease that were illegal according to state law.

The sailor’s JAG referred her case to the ABA Military Pro Bono Project, and she was matched with a volunteer attorney.  The landlord agreed that there was a mistake in the lease, and the volunteer attorney helped the sailor execute an amendment to the lease. The sailor also received a credit for the amount she overpaid the landlord.