This is a follow up question to my "What To Do" question from the other day.

I'm about to serve a 3-Day notice to my tenant who has unauthorized people living in her unit. These people "CLAIM" they don't live there. When I file the complaint with the court how should I put these squatters in also? It seems to me a few years ago I went through an eviction in Cleveland at one of my other units and I listed the squatters as Jane Doe #1, Jane Doe#2/ John Doe#1, John Doe #2. Any suggestions? Thank you in advance.

My Notice to Pay of Quit is addressed to:

"John Tenant, Jane Tenant and all other persons in possession of the property commonly known as 123 Main Street, Anytown, NV"

"John Tenant, Jane Tenant, ET AL."

Works on the original notice and on the eviction notice -- no problem.

- John...

Hi Mark... and thanks for the post

In addition to the other fine suggestions.. may I suggest you add to your rental agreement, if OH law does not forbid it.. a clause like the following;

“SQUATTER” : as the tenant/s, you are responsible to the landlord, for who and for how long you allow someone on the property.

A SQUATTER IS DEFINED IN FOR THIS AGREEMENT AS:

“A PERSON OCCUPYING A DWELLING UNIT WHO IS NOT SO ENTITLED UNDER A RENTAL AGREEMENT OR WHO IS NOT AUTHORIZED BY THE TENANT TO OCCUPY THAT DWELLING UNIT.”

UNDER THIS AGREEMENT, A SQUATTER NEVER HAS THE RIGHT TO OCCUPY.

IF THERE IS A SQUATTER OR PERSON/S ON OR IN THE PROPERTY, AFTER YOU MOVE, THAT YOU ARE, OR HAVE BEEN ,CONNECTED WITH, OR YOU ALLOWED, YOU WILL BEAR THE COST OF REMOVAL AND REGAINING POSSESSION OF THE LANDLORD.

TAKING POSSESSION OF PREMISES FROM UNAUTHORIZED POSSESSOR.

(1) IF AN UNAUTHORIZED PERSON IS IN POSSESSION OF THE PREMISES, AFTER AT LEAST 24 HOURS’ WRITTEN NOTICE SPECIFYING THE CAUSE AND THE DATE AND TIME BY WHICH THE PERSON MUST VACATE, A LANDLORD MAY TAKE POSSESSION IF:

(A) THE TENANT HAS VACATED THE PREMISES;

(B) THE RENTAL AGREEMENT WITH THE TENANT PROHIBITED SUBLEASING OR ALLOWING ANOTHER PERSON TO OCCUPY THE PREMISES WITHOUT THE WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE LANDLORD; (GUESTS) AND

(C) THE LANDLORD HAS NOT KNOWINGLY ACCEPTED RENT FROM THE PERSON IN POSSESSION OF THE PREMISES.

(2) SERVICE OF NOTICE UNDER THIS SECTION DOES NOT CREATE A RIGHT OF TENANCY FOR THE PERSON IN POSSESSION OF THE PREMISES

I also use the et. al

eg, jane and john doe et. al

And, just to be clear and to avoid any problems with nit-picky county clerks or other people, it should be written as "et al." (with no period after "et" and a period after "al").

So: "Joe Tenant et al."

I agree that it shouldn't matter -- but some people are WAY too tenant-friendly and have argued before that it has to be perfect to evict non-listed parties...

- John...

I had my period in the wrong place but here is a definition, actually the person that handles evictions at the court house told me about using this to be sure I am including everyone in the apartment.

Mike [OH] is correct.

"et" (no period) = "and"

"al." (period) = "alia" (no period) = "others"

So "et al." = "et alia" = "and others"

"et al." is normally used for a short form caption in court documents after the long form caption has already been set forth in prior documents. Oy, that didn't come out well. In the first pleading, you need to list every palintiff and every defendant in the caption. Then, for all subsequent documents you file in the case, you just mention by name the first plaintiff and defendant, and use "et al." to indicate that there are others. "John Smith et al. vs. Jane Williams et al."

The problem with using Doe Defendants is that you normally are required to identify those named as Does, sooner or later. "And all others in possession" is normally deemed to be sufficient.

Can you establish a relationship with the local Sheriff's community affairs officer? I would ask her some questions... about your rights as a LL to BAN certain people.

Set up a sign regarding unauthorized people or something and Cops can make arrests when someone is loitering.

Can someone with time like a disabled tenant keep a log book on their coming and going? I drove out and checked a squatter's motorcycle at 5 am for days...

Join a LL Association, good luck!