Recent content by douglasssmith

In addition to posting here, I sent this question to an attorney who writes a Q&A column for the magazine of an association of property owners. This was his response: "You can still serve a notice. However, I would suggest sending a letter to the tenant informing him that the rent is due and...

This concerns a commercial property in Los Angeles California. If a tenant becomes late and, rather than immediately filing a 3-day or any other notice, I give the tenant time to work things out, have I lost my ability to file a 3-day notice or unlawful detainer in the usual way months down the...

Are what's known as airline crash pads legal in single-family homes in unincorporated Los Angeles County? Currently, I have two roommates that have been here for over 10 years. I assume that if I rent the other two bedrooms to flight attendants or pilots that wouldn't be a problem -- just two...

As usual, thanks to all for your feedback. I specifically didn't mention the old case, because I was more interested in the legal reasoning behind the hypothetical situation I proposed rather than analyzing how the old case was adjudicated. That is, damages due no matter what vs. no damages if...

How does the law handle a situation where two composers create and copyright essentially the same tune independently within two years of each other -- and it can be shown that the creation was almost certainly independent? Does the law say no harm, no foul and no one gets damages because the...

@adjusterjack I'm not sure the legal difference so I might be using imprecise language. The buildings are separate structures because I have seen the plans to my building. But there is zero space between them. In fact, I have seen these called zero lot line buildings. In the picture, my building...

Got it. The consensus is that I should fumigate my neighbor's building when I do my own. As I said, I was leaning in that direction since I'm tired of dealing with him. So that is what I will do. Thanks to all for the advice. But I'd like to be clear on the legal principle. Is this consensus...

Here's some further information. I guess I didn't make it clear that my neighbor's building has termite infestation. That's the reason it needs to be fumigated as well as mine. Here is some additional information. Since my message was already long, I didn't figure it was essential. But I'm now...

I have a small 8000 sq. ft. zero lot line commercial building in Los Angeles County, California that needs to be tented for termites. My neighbor's property has a small maybe 750 sq. ft. zero lot line commercial building adjacent to mine that also needs to be tented. My termite contractor says...