Lawsuit filed to stop eviction of 97-year-old Burlingame woman

Lawyers for a 97-year-old woman threatened with eviction from her Burlingame home of 66 years filed a lawsuit Friday on her behalf, contending she was promised lifetime tenancy in the residence by a succession of landlords, and that the unwritten agreement should be honored.

The suit filed for Marie Hatch in San Mateo County Superior Court contends breach of contract, elder abuse and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

Kantz told The Chronicle he “felt bad” about having to evict Hatch, and said he has been working on ways for the property sale to be settled so that Hatch either stays put or can peacefully move somewhere else.

The lawfirm of Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy filed the suit, and lawyer Nancy Fineman called the eviction order “despicable.”

Others offered to buy the house and let her live in it, and some have been trying to work out amicable deals with the landlord so that both parties can come away satisfied.

Cheryl Graczewski, who lives next door to Hatch and has been helping her and Rothrock resist the eviction order, said she was bringing social workers to the home on Monday.

“There are lots of good souls out there,” she said of the outpouring of offers to help her friends.

Wait lists for senior housing can be very long, and she will probably need assistance in future years.

“I think she's still sort of in disbelief,” she said of her elderly friend coping with the eviction notice.