ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – Nia Williams-Brown, who lives in Eatonville, is standing up for a 21-year-old whom she said was kicked out of a house illegally.
Andrew Scott is the son of a well known handyman in the town named Jimmy Scott.
Sunday, June 9 was Andrew’s 21st birthday — and the same day his father died of cancer.
“From Mr. Jimmy, what I heard was make sure my son is not on the street, make sure my son is taken care of,” Brown said.
Since his father died, Williams said Andrew Scott has been facing an unimaginable crisis.
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Andrew Scott sent the following message via text:
“I don’t like how they tried to evict me illegally, entered the house without permission and changed the locks without legal grounds. They claim to care about my dad, but it’s all lies.”
The property Jimmy Scott lived in is managed by Morehouse Realty, led by Alvin Moore, Jr., who used to hold a seat on Eatonville’s town council.
News 6 reporter Treasure Roberts spoke with Moore over the phone about the issue.
“Andrew is not on the lease,” Moore said. “Jimmy Scott said do not let my son Andrew Lee Scott in the house when I am not home.”
Moore claims that before Jimmy died, he said his son Andrew needed to leave.
“I did not harass Andrew,” Moore said.
Moore said Andrew told him he planned to leave and when he wasn’t there, Moore had the locks changed, which was within 48 hours of his father’s death.
However, Andrew said he was in the home when Alvin opened the door and told him to leave.
Moore said his actions align with the lease agreement and the law.
“It said when the last person dies or the last tenant on the lease evacuates the property, we are to take possession. That’s exactly how our lease reads,” Moore said.
Roberts asked Attorney Raymond Traendly about this dispute, and he sent the following statement:
“Florida has Landlord Tenant Statute. That statue prohibits a landlord from taking possession of a dwelling until after 60 days have elapsed after the last remaining tenant deceased. Changing the locks after 48 hours exposes the landlord to a potential wrongful eviction case and being liable to paying damages, attorney’s fees and 3 months rent. The law discourages individuals to use “self-help” to remove people, even people that are wrongfully in possession of the dwelling.”
Attorney Raymond Traendly
Williams said this incident underscores the urgent need for accountability and support for disadvantaged residents.
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