by Paul Hogarth, 2008-09-23
Beyond Chron readers may be familiar with W.B. Coyle—the real estate speculator who, for the past four years, has embarked on an Ellis Act rampage throughout North Beach. Under the guise of various corporate names like North Beach Partners LLC and Above Water LLC, Coyle has directly caused the mass displacement of rent-controlled tenants—purchasing multi-unit buildings, and then evicting the tenants under the Ellis Act. During this time, ironically, Coyle was living in North Beach as a rent-controlled tenant himself. After an alteraction he had in August 2006 at his apartment building in which he allegedly made threatening comments, Coyle’s landlord sued him for assault and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Coyle filed a counterclaim that she violated his rights under the Rent Ordinance. Six weeks ago, a jury awarded the landlady $60,000 in damages.