Somerville Tenant Defends Rent Nonpayment in Eviction Case

Defendant Gary Rogers testifies about lease terms, safety issues, and reasons for staying in apartment despite problems.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 4:41am

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In the third day of a Somerville eviction trial, the defense rested its case after defendant Gary Rogers spent over two hours testifying about his rights as a tenant, including his refusal to pay a 90% rent increase, his lack of an Estoppel certificate, and safety issues in his apartment like a defective oven and cracked toilet. Rogers said he tried to address problems with previous landlords but was not knowledgeable about his full rights at the time.

Why it matters

This case highlights the complexities of tenant-landlord disputes, especially around rent increases and safety concerns, and the challenges tenants can face in asserting their rights, even long-term residents like Rogers who has lived in the unit for 9 years. It also underscores the importance of tenant protections and the role of the courts in mediating these conflicts.

The details

Rogers, who has refused to pay a 90% rent increase since his current landlord Ryan Pinto imposed it in 2024, testified that he never signed an Estoppel certificate to agree to the higher rent. He said the first line of the Estoppel states he is still under the original $1,150 per month lease he signed in 2017, making any subsequent increases invalid. Rogers also testified about safety issues like a defective oven that released smoke and a cracked toilet that flooded his unit, which he said he did not initially report to authorities due to lack of knowledge about his rights. Pinto's attorneys questioned Rogers on why he did not take the previous landlord to court and why he stayed in the unit despite the problems.

  • Rogers signed his original $1,150 per month lease in May 2017.
  • Rent was increased to $1,250 per month by the previous property manager in Fall 2021.
  • Rogers saw the Estoppel certificate in December 2023 and stopped paying the $1,250 rent.
  • The cracked toilet incident happened in 2025, after Pinto became the landlord.

The players

Gary Rogers

The defendant, a Somerville tenant who is facing eviction for non-payment of rent after refusing to pay a 90% increase imposed by his current landlord.

Ryan Pinto

The current landlord of Rogers' apartment who imposed the 90% rent increase that Rogers has refused to pay.

Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research

The workplace of tenant Gary Rogers, which is a factor in his desire to remain in the apartment despite the issues.

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What they’re saying

“This line proves that any increase I was given by the property manager is invalid.”

— Gary Rogers, Tenant

“At that time, I was not knowledgeable about my rights, about [the inspectional services department]”

— Gary Rogers, Tenant

What’s next

Closing arguments and jury deliberation will begin on Thursday.

The takeaway

This case highlights the challenges tenants can face in asserting their rights, even long-term residents, and the importance of clear communication between landlords and tenants around lease terms, rent increases, and safety issues in rental units.