Somerville Tenant Wins Jury Trial, Avoids Eviction and Keeps Lower Rent

Landlord may sell building after losing case against long-term tenant

Apr. 3, 2026 at 5:23am

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An extremely abstracted, out-of-focus photograph of a cozy apartment interior, with soft pools of warm light and color reflecting off surfaces, conveying a sense of home and the personal stakes involved in a housing dispute.A tenant's hard-fought legal victory preserves his affordable home in the face of a landlord's attempt to dramatically raise the rent.Somerville Today

A 14-person jury ruled in favor of Gary Rogers, a Somerville tenant who faced eviction after refusing to pay a 90% rent increase imposed by his landlord in 2024. The jury found that the landlord, Ryan Pinto, had terminated Rogers' tenancy but then established a new tenancy by accepting his previous $1,150 monthly rent payments. Rogers was awarded $1,150 in damages plus interest, and the judge reserved the landlord's counterclaim for further review.

Why it matters

This case highlights the growing tensions between tenants and corporate landlords in the Boston area, where skyrocketing rents are displacing long-term residents. The jury's decision to uphold Rogers' right to remain in his apartment at his previous rent rate is a rare victory for tenants fighting against no-cause evictions and exorbitant rent hikes.

The details

The jury found that while Pinto had terminated Rogers' original lease, he had then established a new month-to-month tenancy by accepting Rogers' $1,150 rent checks without reserving the right to treat them as 'use and occupancy' rather than rent. This invalidated the original eviction case, forcing Pinto to file a new eviction if he wants Rogers out. The jury also awarded Rogers damages for Pinto's mishandling of his security deposit.

  • In May 2017, Rogers signed a lease for a one-bedroom apartment on 22 Sargent Ave. in Somerville.
  • In December 2023, Rogers began paying $1,150 per month in rent.
  • In 2024, Pinto issued Rogers a notice to quit, demanding a 90% rent increase.
  • On April 3, 2026, a 14-person jury ruled in favor of Rogers after a three-day trial.

The players

Gary Rogers

A Somerville tenant who faced eviction after refusing to pay a 90% rent increase imposed by his landlord.

Ryan Pinto

The landlord who sought to evict Rogers from his one-bedroom apartment on 22 Sargent Ave. in Somerville.

Community Action Agency of Somerville (CAAS)

A local organization that provided pro bono legal representation to Rogers in his case against Pinto.

Dexter Rowell

An attorney representing Rogers who argued that Pinto violated the state's Consumer Protection Act as an investment landlord.

Jahangir 'Jay' Zaheer

One of the attorneys representing Pinto, who described the jury's decision as a 'classic example of when doing the right thing goes the wrong way.'

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What they’re saying

“My reaction at first was that I won less than I thought I was going to. My attorneys and the people from [Community Action Agency of Somerville] have informed me of what I have won... so, hh I'm starting to feel like, it's something that's very rare that I decided to do, for not just me, but for CAAS and for future tenants that may want to go for a jury trial... it was all worth it.”

— Gary Rogers, Tenant

“This is one of the classic examples of when doing the right thing goes the wrong way. My client tried to do the right thing, tried to make a no-cause eviction against this gentleman, not to ruin him or harm him. Tried to do a good deed, and, as it turns out, no good deed goes unpunished.”

— Jahangir 'Jay' Zaheer, Attorney for Landlord

“I'm just tired, I'm relieved that it's over. It's Easter, I just want to go home and be with my family. I've got an Easter egg hunt to prepare for a twelve, nine and a five year-old.”

— Ryan Pinto, Landlord

What’s next

The judge reserved the landlord's counterclaim for violations of the Consumer Protections Act, which prohibits unfair or deceptive marketplace conduct. The defense will make a filing within the next month on claims seeking damages for poor and unsafe housing conditions and other issues. The judge will then decide on those claims.

The takeaway

This case highlights the growing housing affordability crisis in the Boston area, where tenants are increasingly fighting back against no-cause evictions and exorbitant rent hikes from corporate landlords. The jury's decision to uphold Rogers' right to remain in his apartment at his previous rent rate is a rare victory, but it also raises questions about how to create more tenant protections and affordable housing options in high-cost markets like Somerville.