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DRAFT FOR ATTORNEY REVIEW — NOT FINAL

Houle v. Quenneville, 787 A.2d 1258 (2001)

Citation
Houle v. Quenneville, 787 A.2d 1258 (2001)
Parent Document
Houle v. Quenneville, 787 A.2d 1258 (2001)
Jurisdiction
Vermont (state)
Effective Date
2001-11-09

Other Sections in This Document (112)

Full Text

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Nevertheless, tenants argue that the court's conclusion that retaliatory eviction "is a statutory defense," and therefore, "it is the defendants' burden to prove the defense," is erroneous. Retaliatory eviction can be raised as a separate cause of *1266 action entitling tenants to damages and attorney's fees or as a defense. 9 V.S.A. § 4465(b). In the present action, tenants raised retaliatory eviction as an affirmative defense. As the party asserting the affirmative defense, tenants have the burden of proving that defense. See V.R.C.P. 8(c); Western Land Office, Inc. v. Cervantes, 175 Cal.App.3d 724, 220 Cal.Rptr. 784, 789 (1985) (the tenant claiming the landlord is guilty of wrongdoing has burden of proving retaliatory eviction).