97-year-old Burlingame woman facing eviction dies

BURLINGAME, Calif (BCN) - A 97-year-old woman fighting a legal battle to stay in her Burlingame home of more than 60 years has died, and her lawyers said Thursday that housing issues were a factor in her death.

"There is no doubt that the callous eviction of Marie Hatch has caused her death," attorneys Nanci Nishimura and Nancy Fineman said in a statement.

Details about the cause and time of Hatch's death were not immediately available, but she reportedly suffered from cancer and other ailments.

Nishimura and Fineman - with the law firm Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy - said they plan to continue their fight on behalf of Hatch's roommate of more than 30 years, 85-year-old Georgia Rothrock.

The suit claimed damages for anguish associated with proceedings to evict Hatch and Rothrock from their cottage in the 600 block of California Drive.

Hatch reportedly had a verbal agreement with the original landlord, but in mid-February she received a 60-day eviction notice from a lawyer representing the current owner's estate.