Lawmaker files 'Jared Kushner Act' to limit tenant arrests

Source: Associated Press


Brian Witte, Associated Press

 Updated 5:03 pm, Wednesday, January 31, 2018

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — A Maryland lawmaker has sponsored the "Jared Kushner Act," a bill that would prevent state judges from issuing arrest warrants for tenants who are being sued for less than $5,000 in unpaid rent.

Del. Bilal Ali, a Baltimore Democrat, said Wednesday he named the bill after President Donald Trump's son-in-law because Kushner's apartment management company was the state's most aggressive landlord in obtaining civil arrest warrants against tenants.

"I think that people have a right to know who's dragging them off to jail," Ali said. "I mean, he has to take ownership for that."

Christine Taylor, a spokeswoman for Kushner Cos., said the company's local counsel in Maryland handled matters consistent with other attorneys in similar situations in the state and in accordance with Maryland law. The arrest warrants are known as "body attachments," and Taylor noted that they are not issued by a court unless there is a failure to abide by two court orders.

Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/politics/article/Lawmaker-files-Jared-Kushner-Act-to-limit-12539839.php