<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<baltimore-city-law heading="§ 9-10 Retaliatory actions.">
  <section prefix="§" num="9-10" heading="Retaliatory actions.">
    <para num="(a)" heading="Actions prohibited.">In addition to the protections afforded to the tenant by &lt;cite data-path="9|§9-9"&gt;Section 9-9&lt;/cite&gt;, a landlord may not evict a tenant of any residential property in Baltimore City or increase the rent or decrease the services to which the tenant is entitled for any of the following reasons:<para num="(1)">solely because the tenant has complained, in good faith, to the landlord or to any public agency concerning the tenant’s rights or specific housing deficiencies; or</para>
      <para num="(2)">solely because the tenant is a member of any tenant’s organization; or</para>
      <para num="(3)">solely because the tenant files suit against the landlord; or</para>
      <para num="(4)">solely because the tenant consults an attorney on any matter involving tenant’s rights.</para>
    </para>
    <para num="(b)" heading="“Retaliatory evictions”.">Evictions described in subsection (a) shall be called “retaliatory evictions”.</para>
    <para num="(c)" heading="Attorneys’ fees and costs.">If, in any eviction proceeding, the judgment is in favor of the tenant for any of the aforementioned defenses, the court may enter judgment for reasonable attorney’s fees and court costs against the landlord.</para>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">P.L.L., 1969, §9-10</annotation>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">1969, ch. 223</annotation>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">1971, ch. 21</annotation>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">1971, ch. 687</annotation>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">1974, ch. 595</annotation>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">1978, ch. 576</annotation>
  </section>
</baltimore-city-law>
