Apart from their assigned mod courses, 1L students may only enroll in courses offered as 1L electives. A complete list of these courses can be found on the 1L Elective Listings page. 1L students must use the 1L class number listed on the course description when enrolling.
287.51 sec. 001 - Housing Litigation and Policy (Spring 2022)
Instructor: Michael Robert Bracamontes (view instructor's teaching evaluations - degree students only)
View all teaching evaluations for this course - degree students only
Units: 2
Grading Designation: Graded
Mode of Instruction: In-Person
Meeting:
Th 3:35 PM - 5:25 PM
Location: Law 12
From January 13, 2022
To April 22, 2022
Course End: April 22, 2022
Class Number: 32583
This course is open to 1Ls.
Enrollment info:
Enrolled: 16
Waitlisted: 0
Enroll Limit: 30
As of: 07/19 11:58 AM
Housing litigation covers everything from anoxic brain injuries due to carbon monoxide poisoning, a class action case against a slumlord or large corporation, a federal civil rights case seeking an injunction prohibiting the displacement of unhoused people on public property, to the more basic, but not less important, defense of an unlawful detainer or eviction lawsuit. We will study the various types of lawsuits referenced above, the strategies involved in successfully navigating each type of case, and how even individual cases can be used to leverage broad impact in a community.
By the end of this course, students will understand the anatomy of various types of civil lawsuits, obtain practical issue spotting skills that will be applicable in real-world scenarios, and will know the historical development of how housing laws were used to create racial and social inequities that persist today.
Course requirements include a short paper and a final exam. Additionally, for each class session, a group of students will be provided moving and opposing papers from actual motions that were filed in superior court and will be asked to argue a side. The course is a chance to develop writing, litigation and public speaking skills, all while learning about a field of law that has helped shape the boundaries of wealth, inequality and justice in this country.
Mr. Bracamontes is a civil rights attorney focusing his practice on individuals in landlord-tenant, employment, and personal injury matters. In the housing context, Mr. Bracamontes has successfully handled cases involving carbon monoxide exposure, lead poisoning, wrongful death, and general habitability concerns. Mr. Bracamontes currently sits on the board of Consumer Attorneys of California and California Rural Legal Assistance. He is also a contributing author to the CEB California Eviction Defense Manual.
Attendance at the first class is mandatory for all currently enrolled and waitlisted students; any currently enrolled or waitlisted students who are not present on the first day of class (without prior permission of the instructor) will be dropped. The instructor will continue to take attendance throughout the add/drop period and anyone who moves off the waitlist into the class must continue to attend or have prior permission of the instructor in order not to be dropped.
Exam Notes: (F) In-class final exam
Exam Length: 1.5 hours
Course Category: Social Justice and Public Interest
This course is listed in the following sub-categories:
Litigation and Procedure
Simulation Courses
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