Poppy Montgomery and her husband are finally leaving a California mansion after living rent-free for months and appearing to try every trick in the book to continue stiffing the irritated 80-year-old owner, a new report claimed.
Aileen Scibetta, the property's landlady, filed eviction charges against the “Without a Trace” star and her marketing executive husband, Shawn Sanford, claiming the couple owes $54,000 in late rent for the luxurious five-bedroom $3.8 million mansion in Pacific Palisades, according to court filings.
It is claimed that Poppy and Shawn refused to pay the $13,500 monthly rent while fighting eviction. The pair allegedly claimed that the house required repairs and complained that the COVID-19 pandemic and actor’s union strike that concluded last year had left the “Unforgettable” actress without an income.
However, Aileen's attorney, Brandon Murphy, contested all of Poppy and Shawn’s justifications. “There are no laws currently in place that would protect Defendants from having to pay the rent that is now past due,” Brandon claimed in court documents opposing Poppy's attempt to exploit the COVID-19 Tenant Relief Act as a pretext to avoid paying rent.
In a compromise reached during a one-day trial in Los Angeles Superior Court on April 24, the couple agreed to pay $25,000 and vacate the home by June 15. Aileen will keep the $26,000 security deposit.
“If Defendants do not move out by said date, [Aileen] may seek money judgment for total amount minus payments made,” the court documents stated, as per The National Enquirer. This is not the first time the 51-year-old beauty, who rose to stardom as Marilyn Monroe in the 2001 miniseries “Blonde,” and her husband have been accused of failing to pay debts.
Miriam Trejo, the couple's former maid, obtained a $111,790 default judgment against them in November after filing a complaint alleging she was not paid overtime for cooking, cleaning, and caring for the couple's children, Violet, 11, and Gus, 9, according to legal documents, via Daily Mail.
Poppy has also had financial troubles with Uncle Sam. Since 2020, she's been hit with three federal tax liens totaling $127,847, as well as a California tax bill of $109,635.
Miriam's lawyer, who wanted not to be named, told the entertainment news source that he doesn't understand why Poppy is having so much trouble meeting her financial obligations when she's worth an estimated $8 million! "It's a damn shame," the lawyer remarked.
Business Times has reached out to Poppy Montgomery for comments.
