Self- Service Storage Facilities:
Since 1994 Mr. Fichter has represented scores of self-storage facility owners and operators in almost every type of legal matter facing self-storage facilities, including the following types of legal matters:
Has obtained more than 900 judgments against tenants in self-storage lien-foreclosure civil lawsuits and has successfully defended self-storage owners and operators against lawsuits and claims by tenants.
Advises over 100 self-storage owners and operators on a regular basis regarding the operations of their self-storage facilities and general real estate, employment, contractual, bankruptcy and related matters.
A Recognized Expert in Self Storage Law:
Because of his extensive background and experience in the field of self-storage law in particular, and civil litigation generally, Mr. Fichter was retained as an “expert” to advise a Los Angeles law firm which defended the owners of a self-storage facility in two lawsuits brought against the owners in an Unfair Competition lawsuit brought by tenants of the facility under the California Unfair Competition Law seeking restitution on behalf of hundreds of tenants of that facility. Mr. Fichter’s advice regarding the client’s compliance, or non-compliance, with the Self-Storage Act, case law nation-wide on the subject of “wrongful sale” of tenant’s property, and related matters, was relied on by the defense. The two cases were eventually settled.
Mr. Fichter regularly advises self-storage clients regarding procedures to follow in the following circumstances:
Eviction of troublesome tenants, tenant death, divorce or bankruptcy of tenants, theft of contents of storage units, construction of new facilities, hazardous materials, operations and risk/liability-avoidance, contractual matters, tenant notices required by law, compliance with the American’s With Disabilities Act and the California Disabled Persons Act and the Servicemembers’ Civil Relief Act, all aspects of the California Self-Service Storage Facility Act, and ownership and operations of self-storage facilities.
Mr. Fichter served a 3-year term as a member of the Western Regional Board of Directors of the national Self Storage Association and was Vice President of that Board for one year. Mr. Fichter also has conducted seminars for that Association, for the California Self Storage Association and, privately, for owners, operators and managers of self-storage facilities.
Mr. Fichter has successfully defended self-storage facilities in lawsuits brought by tenants for “conversion” and “wrongful sale” of the tenant’s property stored in their units, and other claims.