What is a case number?
A case number is the number that the court gives your case to distinguish it from other cases.  You will receive a different number for each case, even if your landlord sues you more than once.  For more definitions, please see our glossary page.

 

Where do I find my case number? 
Your case number is generally found at the center-right of the title page or on the first page of any papers or documents filed with the court.  On a summons, it is located on the bottom right.  It is the number that identifies your case from other cases.

 

Where do I find the Stay Housed application? 
You can find the Stay Housed application at this link:  https://www.stayhousedla.org/referral

 

How do I find the EDN intake form? 
You can find EDN's intake form at the following address:  https://ednoi.legalserver.org/modules/matter/extern_intake.php?pid=129&h=daa817&

 

What is a 'court department?' 
A 'department' is called a room number in a court building.  For more definitions, please see our glossary page. 

 

How do I find out what the court department is? 
You can find your court department on a motion under the date and time of the hearing.  At the Stanley Mosk courthouse, the departments in Los Angeles are generally 66, 91, 93, and 97.  In Pasadena, it is generally department R.  In West Covina, it is generally department 2.

 

How can I find out when the building I live in was built? 
You can go to Zimas.lacity.org, Zillow.com, or Redfin.com and look up the address of any property.  The year the property was built will be found under the Home Facts heading (Redfin) or the Facts and Figures heading (Zillow).

 

How can I find out how many units are in my complex? 
You can go to Zillow.com or Redfin.com and look up the address of any property. The number of units in your complex will be listed under the Home Facts heading (Redfin) or the Facts and Figures heading (Zillow).

 

What is opposing counsel?
Opposing counsel is the name of the lawyer or attorney on the other side of the case.  For more definitions, please see our glossary page.

 

How do I find out who the opposing counsel is?
If you look at the upper left-hand corner of a motion given by the Plaintiff, you will see their attorney's name, State Bar license number, and law firm's address.

 

What is a Plaintiff?
A Plaintiff is the person or entity bringing the complaint, usually the landlord, in an eviction case.  For more definitions, please see our glossary page.

 

When does discovery begin?

Discovery begins:

• 5 days after the landlord serves the tenant with the summons and complaint OR
• 5 days after the tenant has filed an answer to the unlawful detainer lawsuit, whichever happens first.

Discovery must be completed:

• five calendar days before trial.

 

What does Title of Notice mean? 
The Title of Notice means what the Notice (or motion, or any other pleading) is called.

 

Where can I find the title of the Notice?
You will generally see it in block lettering on legal paperwork.  It will be centered at the very top (like on a summons) or the center right in the middle of the page (like on a motion).

 

What does it mean to 'preserve a jury?' 
To preserve a jury means to ask for a jury trial when you answer your unlawful detainer.  For more legal definitions, please see our glossary page. 

 

What is an 'Answer?'
In law, an answer refers to a defendant's first formal written statement to a plaintiff's initial petition or complaint.  For tenants, that means the first 'answer' to the first set of legal documents that you receive, usually the unlawful detainer.

 

How long do I have to respond to the Unlawful Detainer?
Once you are served the Summons and Complaint forms, you have 5 days to file a response with the court.  The 5 days don't include Saturdays, Sundays, or court holidays.  It is crucial to respond as soon as possible.

 

What is limited scope, and what does that mean?
Limited scope is when EDN takes on a client just to do a specific legal act—that can be filling out paperwork, defending a specific motion in court, or taking any number of actions on your behalf.

 

What is full scope?
Full scope is when EDN takes on a case until its end, no matter where you are in your legal process.

 

How do I become a retained EDN client?
We have particular guidelines to follow for our grant funding.  It allows us to retain:
Mothers with minor children
Older adults who are frail or disabled
Very low-income individuals
Disabled tenants

EDN also sometimes retains participants in our TEP classes.

 

Why is your phone number not on the website?
The answer is that we do not want you to call.

For tenants looking for legal help, a call results in a long discussion with a receptionist.  You insist on talking to a lawyer, and they must explain why we can't accommodate cold calls. 

To get services from us, start with the very first button on the home page of our website at edn.la.  "Need Help?  Start here."  After watching the first video, you will learn what services we offer and how to access those services.

 

What is TEP? 
TEP stands for Tenant Empowerment Program, a series of classes that EDN puts on to educate and empower tenants to fight their cases.  In these classes, you may have the opportunity to discuss your case with an attorney and get support at various points in your eviction fight.

 

How can I volunteer at EDN?
You can volunteer in several ways!  You can help to translate for tenants who do not speak English; you can offer court support and pair up with another tenant at the courthouse; you can help us digitize our backlog of former cases; you can help tenants fill out their paperwork; you can drive someone to court, and many other helpful actions.  Thank you for supporting and telling others about EDN!