Opinion ID: 521461
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Wrongful Eviction

Text: 17 Plaza contends that the bankruptcy court erred by finding that Plaza wrongfully evicted Club because Plaza did not deprive Club of the beneficial enjoyment of the premises. Plaza notes that, at the time Plaza entered the premises and changed the locks, Club had been closed for two months and Club did not intend to reopen until November 1985. 18 Here, it is undisputed that in August 1985, Plaza reentered the premises and changed the locks, preventing Club from entering the premises. It is equally undisputed that Plaza failed to comply with California's unlawful detainer statute in taking possession of the premises. A landlord is allowed to reenter without satisfying the requirements of the unlawful detainer statute only when the tenant has abandoned the premises and thereby lost his right to possession. Kassan v. Stout, 9 Cal.3d 39, 44, 507 P.2d 87, 90, 106 Cal.Rptr. 783, 786 (1973). As previously discussed, however, Club did not abandon the premises. Accordingly, Plaza is liable to Club for forcible entry and detainer. See Bedi v. McMullan, 160 Cal.App.3d 272, 276, 206 Cal.Rptr. 578, 580-81 (1984) (holding that under California's unlawful detainer statute, a landlord must obtain a valid writ of execution before forcibly evicting a tenant). A landlord's forcible entry gives the tenant a cause of action in tort for wrongful eviction. See 4 B. Witkin, Summary of California Law, Real Property Secs. 732-733 (9th ed. 1987). Accordingly, the bankruptcy court properly granted judgment to Club on its wrongful eviction claim.