snuffy
02-14-2008, 12:28 PM
Iraq Vet Comes Home, Gets Evicted
Couple Asks Property Manager To Add Husband Onto Wife's Lease
OMAHA, Neb. -- A Nebraska National Guard soldier recently back from Iraq is fighting an eviction notice from his landlord.
Trista Jelinek rented an apartment at Villa Vinee, near 78th and Harney streets, in August.
The couple has spent most of their marriage apart as Tommy Jelinek served in the military.
"I was looking for an apartment, and I say straight up, 'My husband is in Iraq. He'll be living with me when he comes back in October,'" Trista Jelinek said. "They at no time said, 'Hey, if your husband doesn't qualify for an application, he can't live here."
When Tommy Jelinek returned from Iraq in October, he said he introduced himself to apartment management and moved in with his wife.
"They gave me the key," said Tommy Jelinek. "They gave me the parking pass, said, 'Welcome back,' and at that point we figured we'd done everything to let them know the situation."
Last month, Villa Vinee informed Tommy Jelinek that he must apply to be on the lease. He did. But when a credit check came back showing delinquent debt, Jelinek was denied a lease.
Management sent Trista Jelinek a notice warning her of an unauthorized resident living in her apartment, and said she must rectify and remedy the breach. In other words, the wife was welcome to stay, but the husband must go. If not, Trista Jelinek would be evicted.
"Give me a break," said the couple's attorney Richard Dinsmore. "They pay their rent. They're model citizens. He serves in Iraq, and this is the welcome home you get back?"
Dinsmore said that Tommy Jelinek was unable to pay some medical bills while overseas, but said that most of that debt has been paid off. Dinsdale filed for a temporary restraining order to stop the eviction and a judge granted it.
"As we said in the petition, to require a wife to evict her husband after they've been separated for 18 months is humiliating. It's debasing. It's unconscionable, and some other words I can't come up with," Dinsmore said.
The couple said they hopes they can settle the matter out of court.
"We definitely feel obligated to fight this, because we believe we are truly in the right, and were up-front with these guys," said Tommy Jelinek. "We just want to be treated fairly."
The attorney for Villa Vinee property manager Robert Hancock and Co. said the company's leasing policies are based on fair housing laws. She said the property is reviewing the policies to make sure they meet intentions. She said the property manager is hopeful it can reach a resolution in the best interest of both the Jelineks and Robert Hancock and Co.
If not, a hearing is scheduled for Feb. 20.
http://www.ketv.com/news/15295270/detail.html
Couple Asks Property Manager To Add Husband Onto Wife's Lease
OMAHA, Neb. -- A Nebraska National Guard soldier recently back from Iraq is fighting an eviction notice from his landlord.
Trista Jelinek rented an apartment at Villa Vinee, near 78th and Harney streets, in August.
The couple has spent most of their marriage apart as Tommy Jelinek served in the military.
"I was looking for an apartment, and I say straight up, 'My husband is in Iraq. He'll be living with me when he comes back in October,'" Trista Jelinek said. "They at no time said, 'Hey, if your husband doesn't qualify for an application, he can't live here."
When Tommy Jelinek returned from Iraq in October, he said he introduced himself to apartment management and moved in with his wife.
"They gave me the key," said Tommy Jelinek. "They gave me the parking pass, said, 'Welcome back,' and at that point we figured we'd done everything to let them know the situation."
Last month, Villa Vinee informed Tommy Jelinek that he must apply to be on the lease. He did. But when a credit check came back showing delinquent debt, Jelinek was denied a lease.
Management sent Trista Jelinek a notice warning her of an unauthorized resident living in her apartment, and said she must rectify and remedy the breach. In other words, the wife was welcome to stay, but the husband must go. If not, Trista Jelinek would be evicted.
"Give me a break," said the couple's attorney Richard Dinsmore. "They pay their rent. They're model citizens. He serves in Iraq, and this is the welcome home you get back?"
Dinsmore said that Tommy Jelinek was unable to pay some medical bills while overseas, but said that most of that debt has been paid off. Dinsdale filed for a temporary restraining order to stop the eviction and a judge granted it.
"As we said in the petition, to require a wife to evict her husband after they've been separated for 18 months is humiliating. It's debasing. It's unconscionable, and some other words I can't come up with," Dinsmore said.
The couple said they hopes they can settle the matter out of court.
"We definitely feel obligated to fight this, because we believe we are truly in the right, and were up-front with these guys," said Tommy Jelinek. "We just want to be treated fairly."
The attorney for Villa Vinee property manager Robert Hancock and Co. said the company's leasing policies are based on fair housing laws. She said the property is reviewing the policies to make sure they meet intentions. She said the property manager is hopeful it can reach a resolution in the best interest of both the Jelineks and Robert Hancock and Co.
If not, a hearing is scheduled for Feb. 20.
http://www.ketv.com/news/15295270/detail.html