Landlord Requests that another Court Hearing Is Scheduled

Mr. German E. Escalante, the landlord who owns a property on the Sunmer Street failed to appear on the first hearing in the Uxbridge District Court. Later, he was also a no-show on the second hearing failing to defend himself on June 18th, after what he was ordered to immediately stop renting out the illegal apartment located on the 3rd floor at 29, Sumner St. and to house his tenants in new residential properties at his own expense. However, the motion which was sent to the Uxbridge District Court this week by Mr. Escalante said that he did not receive any notification of the hearings and needs a new one to be scheduled. The request of the landlord for a new hearing means that the injunction ordered in June by Judge Timothy Sullivan cannot be enforced. Another hearing has been scheduled on next Thursday, July 9th at the session of the Worcester Housing Court, located in Uxbridge. Mr. Gerald Moody, a town counsel said that they will oppose to any changes to the injunction and will let the judge decide. It is interesting to note, that a notice of the court date was delivered to Escalante's Framingham address, which was listed by him at the assessors office as his main place of residence. However, in the motion sent, the landlord claimed that he lives at 401 Hartford Ave. in Bellingham. Mr. Escalante is being accused of health code violations, which include the attachment of a metal ladder to the exterior vinyl siding of the property representing a second exit. Moreover, according to the reports, the rented property was illegally converted into a 3-family house from a 2-family one. Inspectors said that the fact was revealed during the investigation associated with property overcrowding. Mr. Moody will be absent at the Court hearing next week, but he will be represented by a lawyer. At the moment, there is no way of contacting Mr. Escalante as his telephone number is unlisted.