Sangiacomo

Angelo Sangiacomo and other defendants appeal from an order denying their motion to dissolve a preliminary injunction.

On July 5, 1979 the San Francisco District Attorney filed an action for injunctive relief, restitution and penalties against Angelo Sangiacomo and other defendants. The complaint charged the defendants with violating section 1950.5 of the Civil Code in that they required tenants to pay nonrefundable security deposits and failed to refund securities, where appropriate, within the two-week period following the time a tenant vacated a rental unit.

On November 21, 1979, the Law and Motion Department of the San Francisco Superior Court granted the People’s motion for a preliminary injunction. The order for injunction enjoined defendants from “Assessing tenants any non-refundable security (payment, fee, deposit or charge) in violation of Civil Code section 1950.5” or from “Failing within the statutory maximum two-week period to return either in full or in appropriate part any security (payment, fee, deposit, or charge) assessed to tenants of Defendants, in violation of Civil Code section 1950.5.”

On May 1, 1980, Leon Goodman (a tenant in one of defendants’…