Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in California

Filing would not be reasonable if done after knowing that the money had been paid. If done beforehand and the contract permits such recovery whether not any recovery is made via the suit as opposed to your paying, it would not be unreasonable to charge you for the cost of filing the suit. After all, the threat of a suit was an incentive to make you pay the back rent.

If the rent was not paid within three days of the three-day notice, and there is sufficient history of late payment, the landlord may proceed with the eviction even after accepting the rent.