
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, June 6, 1990                   TAG: 9006060196
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

EVICTION SUIT FILED IN TENANT DRUG CASE

Public-housing officials in Roanoke have filed a lawsuit against a woman who was evicted from a housing project for dealing drugs but has refused to move out.

Veronica Brown, of the 1700 block of Melrose Avenue Northwest, was named in a suit filed Tuesday in Roanoke Circuit Court by the city Redevelopment and Housing Authority.

According to the suit, Brown was evicted in March, shortly after pleading guilty to felony charges of possessing and selling marijuana at her home.

Housing officials routinely evict tenants who are involved with drugs, and most of the evictions are not contested.

Daniel Layman, a Roanoke lawyer who filed the suit for the housing authority, said this is the first time a contested case has been taken to Circuit Court.

Most of the eviction matters are handled in General District Court. But in a contested case, HUD policy dictates that the matter be resolved in Circuit Court, where discovery procedures are available.

Attempts to reach Brown on Tuesday for comment were unsuccessful.

by CNB