I am requesting a fair review of my case regarding my lease non-renewal and pending eviction from my apartment in Saddle Brook, NJ.

* Why This All Started:

I was told my lease would not be renewed, which is what initially pushed me to seek legal help. The landlord claimed the rent increase (from $1,800 to $2,100, then to $2,300) was due to upcoming renovations — but those renovations never occurred. In addition, the rent does not include utilities or lawn and snow maintenance. 

When a "contractor" was supposedly scheduled to view the apartment, it turned out to be a family — not an actual contractor — and the landlord instructed me to wait outside my own home while they walked through it. I was not given advance notice about the amount of people that came, and it became clear that this was not a renovation visit, but a pretext for possibly showing my apartment to others.

* I Tried to Get Help — But the System Failed Me:

I applied for rental assistance twice, and both times it was denied — not because I was ineligible, but because the landlord failed to complete their side of the paperwork, or told the agency that I "didn't owe anything." I made every attempt to resolve things peacefully and legally, but the landlord’s refusal to cooperate led to both applications being closed.

Despite this, I continued to try and pay rent, even during a 3-month period of disability where I had no income. I paid late fees when necessary and never abandoned my responsibilities as a tenant.

* The Lawyer I Was Referred to Made Things Worse:

After the lease non-renewal, I was referred to a lawyer by my neighbor — who later harassed me and sent a defamatory email about me to multiple members of the community, including the same lawyer.

After that email was sent, the lawyer’s communication with me became limited and cold. I was unaware of a serious filing deadline and only found out on the day of court that my motion to contest the eviction had never even been filed.

That same day, I was pressured into signing a settlement I didn’t feel comfortable with. I told the lawyer that I had nowhere to go and did not want to sign. But I was told it was my only option, and that I could be removed at any moment if I didn’t.

And Yes, when the judge asked me if I understood what I was signing, I said yes — but that was out of panic and fear, after understanding that the lawyer had never even filed the motion in the first place. I felt tricked, uninformed, and pressured. I have the messages to prove all of this.

*I Am Not a Negligent Tenant — I Was Misled, Misrepresented, and Mistreated

- I paid my rent — even during a disability period

- I was denied rental assistance due to landlord inaction

- The promised renovations never occurred, and the rent was still raised by over 25%

- My home was entered without proper process, and I was asked to wait outside while strangers entered

- The settlement was signed under pressure, after my own lawyer failed to file my defense

I have emails, texts, video evidence, and documentation of everything mentioned above.

* My Request to the Court:

I am asking that this full story and all supporting evidence be reviewed before any final decision is made at the July 9 hearing. I am also requesting that my current legal counsel submit this statement, on record, to Judge Rosa, so the court can understand that I am not evading responsibility — I am fighting back against an unfair process that tried to silence me.

This eviction is rooted in manipulation, misrepresentation, and abandonment by those who were supposed to help me — and I am asking the court to recognize this.

If this situation is ignored, not only will I lose my home, but this sets a dangerous precedent for how low-income tenants and disabled individuals can be pushed out of their homes without proper due process. I was pressured into signing a settlement under emotional distress after learning my lawyer didn’t file the correct motion to protect my rights. My rental assistance was denied because my landlord failed to submit paperwork. My apartment was shown to strangers under the lie of a contractor visit while I was told to wait outside. If nothing changes, I could be homeless due to a system that failed me on every level.

I want to present this petition to my current lawyer and the judge as proof that people stand behind fairness, transparency, and justice for tenants like me. This petition isn’t just about my case—it’s about making sure no other tenant is pushed into silence, misled into signing away their rights, or evicted due to manipulation. Please sign and share this petition today to show that this kind of mistreatment should never be tolerated.

Thank you for your time and fair review.

Sincerely,

Tenant in Saddle Brook, NJ