Huntington woman sues former landlord for belongings

HUNTINGTON -- A Huntington woman is suing her former landlord after she claims he refused to let her retrieve her belongings from her apartment.

Tanise Jackson rented an apartment on Spring Valley Drive from James Crockett from March until November 2009, according to a complaint filed April 9 in Cabell Circuit Court.

Jackson claims she always timely paid her rent to Crockett each month.

In November 2009, Jackson left the state to care for her ill mother in Michigan and advised Crockett that she would return for her belongings, according to the suit.

On Dec. 5, Jackson returned to the apartment and discovered she had no access to the apartment and all of her belongings were gone, according to the suit.

Jackson claims she immediately contacted Crockett, who advised her that her belongings were stored in a garage and she could retrieve them.

Over the next several months, Jackson claims she left Crockett numerous phone messages, requesting a time when she could retrieve her belongings, but Crockett refused to return her calls.

Jackson claims Crockett did not safeguard her property and improperly removed her belongings in violation of West Virginia Code.

Items include furniture, three televisions, tools, a Sony PlayStation 3, a Nintendo Wii, kitchen appliances, three queen-size beds, linens, birth certificates, clothing, various paperwork and kitchenware, among other things, according to the suit.

Jackson is seeking compensatory damages for the entire loss of her personal property. She is being represented by Hoyt Glazer of Legal Aid of West Virginia.

The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge David M. Pancake.

Cabell Circuit Court case number: 10-C-302