Retaliatory eviction occurs when a landlord attempts to evict a tenant in response to a legal action taken by the tenant. Examples of actions taken by tenants that sometimes result in retaliatory eviction include filing written complaints or lawsuits against a landlord, or becoming a member of a tenant's organization. Most states have specific laws outlawing retaliatory eviction, however a tenant may have to prove in court that a landlord's conduct was retaliatory. In some cases, the law may assume retaliatory conduct on the landlord's part if the tenant engaged in certain activities within a specified amount of time. The burden would then be on the landlord to prove that his conduct was not retaliatory, and that that the eviction was reasonable and legal. Local laws may allow a tenant who has been the victim of retaliatory eviction to sue for both actual and punitive damages in addition to attorney fees.