Tenant and landlord agree to remove late and legal fees in retaliation claim settlement

During the retaliation portion of the Wilmar hearing, the landlord offered to remove late charges and legal-fee assessments tied to the tenant’s ledger, and tenant Thomas Wilmoth accepted that offer, resolving the retaliation claim subject to a formal stipulated order.

Landlord counsel told the commission the landlord would remove the late charges and the legal fees referenced in the tenant’s ledger for the dates discussed. The tenant confirmed he would accept that resolution. Counsel said they would draft a stipulated agreement and return it to the commission to be entered as an order at the next regular meeting. “The landlord will remove the late charges and the legal fee,” the landlord’s counsel stated during the exchange.

Commissioners discussed that the fee removal resolves the tenant’s retaliation allegation as a matter between the parties, but some commissioners noted separate issues remain regarding whether notices or commission orders were properly followed; those procedural concerns could be addressed independently. The commission indicated it would vote on and enter any stipulated agreement as an order once the document is drafted and signed by the parties.

Under the terms described on the record, the removal of the fees resolves the tenant’s immediate retaliation claim; commissioners asked staff to circulate the drafted stipulated order when available and placed the matter on the agenda to be formally accepted at the next meeting (targeted for July 9).