Former Council candidate’s legal fight results in a tie
SM COURTHOUSE Note to tenants that have a bone to pick with one another: Work it out on your own.
That’s the message a small claims court judge sent to two long-time Santa Monicans that battled in court last week over allegations of harassment, including the questionable placement of dead fish in the plaintiff’s yard.
William and Gretchen Richert filed a lawsuit against former City Council candidate Terence Later, claiming the son of their landlord was harassing and threatening them by setting off wild barbecue fires in the courtyard, leaving dead fish in front of their door and making numerous false disturbance calls to the police. Later, who ran for Council in 2006, denied all the claims and coun-tersued the couple who have been living in the Euclid Street apartment building for the past 14 years, alleging the neighbors defamed him in circulating a short documentary about their feud.
Both parties made their cases in the Santa Monica Courthouse last Wednesday and the judge’s decision came in just one day later.
“Defendant does not owe plaintiff any money on plaintiff’s claim... plaintiff does not owe defendant any money on defendant’s claim,” the decision states.
Both parties claim the animosity arose more than two years ago. The Richerts said Later, who they believe is the heir to building ownership, is trying to kick out the long-time rent control tenants, who pay only $790 a month for a one-bedroom apartment in Mid-City. But Later, who denies it’s an issue of rent control because many of the residents in the building are long-time tenants, believes the issue stems from a deeper and more personal financial situation with Gretchen Richert’s family. That claim has also been denied by the Richerts.
Despite all that’s transpired, Later remains hopeful the two neighbors can find peace with one another.
“Of course I feel justice has been served and I am relieved, however, I really believe forgiveness is in order,” Later said in a statement Tuesday. “The Commandments say to, ‘Love thy neighbor as thyself.’ I believe in that philosophy.”
A nine-minute-long video documenting the un-neighborly relationship was created by William Richert, an actor and director, and posted on YouTube under the headline “Santa Monica candidate versus tenants.” The video shows a distressed Gretchen pleading to a Santa Monica Police officer to take action against Later and filing a restraining order at the Santa Monica Courthouse, where video cameras are not allowed.
In three months, the video has attracted 254 views and six comments, most recently by user “paulyjerkov,” who asks why the tenants don’t just move away.
“We have no intention of moving from our home because of Mr. Later,” William Richert said in a statement Tuesday.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on November 1, 2007. Read the original PDF.