Legal Question in Real Estate Law in California

Can landlord demand payment for electrician?
I live in a 27-unit apartment complex which is privately owned, and has an on site manager. Our garages are detached from the building. For the past 4-1/2 months I had kept a spare refrigerator in my garage with the intention of using it in my apt. Yesterday I received a letter from the building owner that stated "Several weeks ago we had a loss of power on the property. We had to call an electrician to find the cause. With some difficulty he finally located the problem. It was due to your fridge which was plugged into the light in your garage. The fridge had a short in the motor & blew the circuit breaker. I am sending you the bill because I believe you should pay it. I have already paid the electrician, so please make your check payable to manager"
1. No bill or copy thereof was enclosed.
2. I was not told about the power outage until a day or two after it happened.
3. I experience surges in my electricity on a daily basis.
Is it legal for the owner to bill me for this? Does he have an obligation to "prove" to me that I was the cause? Or do I in turn have to "prove" that I wasn't to blame? Please help!!! Thanks!

Asked on 11/30/99, 5:50 am

Ken Koury Kenneth P. Koury, Esq.

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Re: Can landlord demand payment for electrician?

He would have to prove you were the cause. If you were to agree to pay i would insist on seeing the bill.

Answered on 1/25/00, 2:02 am

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