History of trouble
2005: A Wisconsin landlord wins an $80,000 judgment against Gwen Smith.
AUG 2008: Smith rents a Sebastopol apartment owned by Barbara Wilt, and within two months stops paying rent, launching a legal battle that lasts more than 18 months.
FEB. 2009: Smith leaves the Sebastopol property of Wilt and rents a nearby converted barn apartment owned by Connie Cook, beginning a similar pattern of withholding rent and claiming poor living conditions.
APRIL 2010: Sonoma County Judge Elliot Daum orders Smith to pay Wilt $42,500 in back rent and damages. Smith appeals the decision.
AUG. 2010: Hours before an eviction hearing, Smith leaves Cook's property, 18 months after moving in and without paying more than a year's rent.
NOV. 2010: Judge orders Smith to pay Cook $49,635 in back rent and damages.
NOV. 2010: Cook sells her property at a loss before foreclosure and makes plans to rent the converted barn apartment on her former property that she had rented to Smith.