Wave Staff Report
LOS ANGELES — Family members and other supporters are coming to the assistance of an elderly woman locked in a dispute with a tenant that could go to trial as soon as March 26.
Mamie Hansberry Mitchell, 102, is the sister of late playwright Lorraine Hansberry, who wrote “Raisin in the Sun.”
According to her granddaughter Shawna Charles, Mitchell has lived for 35 years in the upper unit of her Los Angeles duplex.
“She should be enjoying peace and security at this stage of her life, but instead faces the constant stress of a legal battle that threatens not just her property, but her independence and sense of safety,” Charles said at a news conference March 16. “After years of unpaid rent and ongoing bills, it is simply impossible for her to fund this upcoming trial. Though my grandmother is the lawful owner and landlord, [her tenant] refuses to recognize her authority.
“She is struggling to cover utilities, maintenance and expenses from her fixed income,” Charles added. “She has fallen behind on her enormous property taxes, all while receiving nothing from the unit that helps sustain her independence.
“Her home which was once a source of stability has become a source of uncertainty, fear and anxiety.”
Charles said the eviction process has been complex, lengthy, emotionally exhausting, and extremely expensive, leaving her grandmother feeling powerless in her own home.
The back yard of her property has been effectively taken over by the tenant for his exclusive use, which includes his large unleashed dog, removing her ability to safely enjoy her property.
There also have been repeated incidents of intimidation, verbal abuse and confrontational behavior witnessed by others, Charles said. including senior code enforcement inspectors.
“At her age, this loss of freedom and sense of safety is devastating,” Charles said. “She has been left emotionally distressed and afraid to open her own door in the home she owns.
The tenant is supported by a prominent legal aid organization and has aggressively contested the eviction action, Charles continued. Meanwhile, unscrupulous lawyers have taken her money and have done nothing.
Without Mitchell’s consent, her property was used in connection with the Hulu docuseries “Hey Beautiful: Anatomy of a Romance Scam,” compounding her sense that control over her home is slipping away.
“Our communities are built on the principle that we care for and protect our elders,” said Pastor KW Tulloss from Mobilizing Preachers and Communities, who is joining the family in calling attention to concerns about elder safety and the ability of small landlords to protect themselves under these circumstances.
Charles said trial is set for March 26, and her elderly grandmother is facing it without legal support while the case remains ongoing. Because the tenant requested a jury trial, Mitchell’s legal bills could rise to between $20,000 and $50,000, with about $10,000 required upfront, just to move forward — on top of money already paid to previous lawyers.
Meanwhile the tenant receives free legal aid through Eviction Defense Network, a resource not available to landlords, elderly or otherwise.
Activist Earl Ofari Hutchinson called on city officials to join Mitchell’s fight.
“The fact that someone of the age and stature and cultural treasure Mamie Hansberry Mitchell represents to Los Angeles is faced with the possible loss of her home and victimization should be cause for shame, embarrassment and outrage by Los Angeles city officials,” said Hutchinson, president of Los Angeles Urban Policy Roundtable. “The city must immediately step in and aid and assist her in her fight for justice.”
