Suing a Landlord in 7 Steps

When Maria Gonzales' landlord moved into the basement of her home and wouldn't leave, Gonzales consulted a real estate attorney at $375 per hour to learn how to boot the lady out, sue her, or at least break the lease and get back the security deposit.

Gonzales and her husband David (not their real names), thought the Fairfax, Va. three-bedroom, two-bath townhome outside Washington, D.C. was too good to be true when they found it on Craigslist for $1,850 per month in rent.

"It was cheaper than a lot of other homes," said Maria Gonzales, "and bigger."