Powell v. Washington Land Co., Inc.

I agree that the judgment must be reversed and, although my emphasis is some*774what different, I have no quarrel with Judge Ruiz’ opinion. I write separately, however, to discuss the tension between the result we reach and traditional equitable principles.

The gravamen of Ms. Powell’s complaint is that the landlord evicted her in violation of the bankruptcy court’s automatic stay. It is undisputed that, but for the entry of that stay, the landlord would have been entitled, pursuant to the judgment for possession and writ of restitution issued by the Landlord & Tenant Branch, to evict Ms. Powell…