Custody Battle Turns Tragic for UC Berkeley Professor
A UC Berkeley professor was tragically killed amid a turbulent custody dispute in Greece, leaving his family and 11-year-old twin children to face hardship back in California. Now, relatives are grappling with their own legal fight to clear out alleged squatters from their East Bay residence.
Przemysław Jeziorski was shot during this custody battle in July. Reports indicate that his ex-wife’s boyfriend later confessed to the crime. Jeziorski’s ex-wife, Nadia Mikelidaki, tragically took her own life in a Greek prison just a few months earlier, in May.
Back in the U.S., Jeziorski’s once-opulent Berkeley home, which previously served as an Airbnb, has become embroiled in a contentious legal situation.
Family members assert that individuals are inhabiting the property without permission and have resisted multiple eviction attempts.
Court documents reveal that the occupiers claim to have signed a one-year lease with Mikelidaki, paying a substantial $30,000 upfront. However, the family’s attorney, Erin Stratte, challenges this, stating that Mikelidaki was in custody at the time the alleged lease was signed.
The Berkeley police first responded to the property in December after receiving reports of potential trespassing. Officers encountered a woman who claimed to hold a valid rental agreement.
Despite eviction notices and an ongoing legal struggle, the current inhabitants have remained in the home.
An NBC Bay Area reporter found no one answering the door during a recent visit, and the phone number listed in court documents appears to be disconnected.
The family has also claimed that their belongings are being sold at yard sales, although these assertions have not been independently confirmed.
A key aspect of this dispute lies in California law, which often classifies long-term occupants as private tenants rather than trespassers, complicating the eviction process. Owners may find themselves navigating civil eviction courts, which can take considerable time and involve a lengthy legal ordeal.
This system, prevalent in states like California and New York, can pose serious challenges for property owners attempting to swiftly reclaim their homes, even when there are disputes over ownership or lease legitimacy.
Stratte expressed concern that homeowners could be stuck in prolonged legal battles even when they believe their properties have been occupied unlawfully.
Łukasz Jeziorski, the brother of the deceased professor, is currently raising the twins while managing the mortgage on the Berkeley house intended for their future. He expressed deep frustration, saying, “They are stealing from two orphans. I think they are very bad people.”
This situation has drawn attention to ongoing legislative efforts in California, such as SB 1303, aimed at expediting eviction processes for unauthorized occupants. Law enforcement in some regions is becoming more proactive in addressing cases of suspected unauthorized occupation and fraudulent rental agreements, particularly when property owners act quickly to prevent the establishment of long-term occupant status.
