Landlords in Santa Monica now face increased legal pressure after a string of court decisions and a fresh civil lawsuit from city prosecutors. These recent moves address both discrimination against disabled veterans and reported attempts to push out long-term tenants from rent-controlled apartments.
One significant case ended with Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Bradley S. Phillips approving a stipulated judgment and injunction against Lawrence Lee Boydston (case No. 25SMSCV04269). On October 27, 2026, the Santa Monica City Attorney’s Office stated that Boydston must accept Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) vouchers from two elderly military veterans, handle all related paperwork, and allow installation of a motorized chair lift for their disabilities. The city said Boydston had previously refused the vouchers and denied the disability accommodation. The court order also requires Boydston to adopt a formal written fair housing policy, complete city-approved property management training, and follow Santa Monica’s Housing Anti-Discrimination Ordinance. The judgment applies beyond the two veterans, obligating Boydston to accept housing vouchers from any current tenant or qualified applicant and to comply with all voucher-program terms. These requirements aim to prevent future discrimination and keep fair housing laws in force. Details of the case and its terms appear in the official city announcement.
Appellate court upholds affordable housing restrictions
In another legal win, the California Court of Appeal upheld a lower court decision protecting deed restrictions at the Dorchester Condominiums on 4th Street. The dispute focused on property owner Chiang Juei Sung’s effort to evict a low-income tenant and bypass rules for 15 ground-floor units. The appellate decision confirmed that these restrictions block owner-occupancy, require leasing to eligible low-income renters outside the owner’s family, and stay in effect for the building’s lifetime. The court also left in place a $144,000 attorney fee judgment against Sung, reflecting more than five years of litigation. City prosecutors are seeking further legal fees and interest for the appeal period. The Dorchester case shows the city’s ongoing push to enforce affordable housing rules and protect tenants in deed-restricted units.
New lawsuit alleges campaign of harassment in rent-controlled building
Following these outcomes, the Santa Monica City Attorney’s Office has filed a civil complaint (case No. 26SMCV03615) against Kevan Tschekaloff, Caley Tschekaloff, and Diane Tschekaloff, along with the Diane Tschekaloff Inter Vivos Trust, over a six-unit rent-controlled property on Harvard Street. The complaint claims a pattern of coercion and intimidation aimed at removing vulnerable, long-term tenants, many of whom are seniors with decades of tenancy. Specific claims include pointing surveillance cameras at residents’ windows and entrances, issuing unlawful eviction notices with threats of police involvement, retaliating against tenants who reported code violations by padlocking shared spaces and blocking vehicles, posting defamatory statements online, ignoring urgent repair orders for issues like prolonged hot water outages, collapsing ceilings, mold, and other disrepair, and pressuring tenants to sign new leases that strip away rent control protections. Santa Monica Code Enforcement and the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health are named as agencies that have documented serious habitability problems at the property.
City prosecutors are asking the court to appoint an independent property receiver, order immediate repairs, stop harassment, and remove invasive cameras. The lawsuit seeks civil penalties, enhanced damages for targeting elderly residents, punitive damages, and legal costs. As of the city’s October 27, 2026 announcement, the case remains newly filed and the allegations have not yet been decided in court. The city’s actions show a broader effort to enforce rent control and affordable housing protections, as described in the official press release and ongoing city policy.
Deputy City Attorney Jonathan Erwin-Frank stated the city’s focus on enforcing both rent control and below-market housing requirements, calling these programs essential for preventing homelessness and meeting residents’ housing needs. For more on these legal actions and their effect on Santa Monica’s tenant protections, see Santa Monica Mirror coverage.
