Ex-landlord sues Tim Lincecum

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SAN FRANCISCO -- The former landlord for Giants ace Tim Lincecum has filed a lawsuit against the pitcher seeking $350,000 in damages, claiming the two-time NL Cy Young Award winner stole and destroyed items in the San Francisco apartment he rented.

Lincecum

The lawsuit was filed Wednesday in San Francisco Superior Court by Mindy Freile. She alleges that after Lincecum's lease expired, he returned to living in the unit and "broke, stained, defaced, tore, injured or destroyed" her property.

Lincecum signed a lease in May 2010 to rent the Mission District apartment, according to court documents. The lawsuit alleges that shortly after the lease expired on Feb. 28, Lincecum occupied the unit without his landlord's permission and stayed through May 13.

Freile, who said she had been trying to evict Lincecum, later entered the unit and found the damages. The landlord wrote in the complaint that Lincecum also failed to pay rent on time and stole and destroyed household properties such as "bedding, doors, carpet, pillows, kitchenware, linens, furniture, household appliances, art work, decorations, patio furniture, lights, lamps, and mirrors."

She is seeking $200,000 in property damage and an additional $150,000 in time and money lost. A case management conference is scheduled for March 9 in San Francisco.

A text message to Lincecum seeking comment wasn't immediately returned Thursday night. Giants spokeswoman Staci Slaughter said the team had no comment.

Lincecum, known as "The Freak" for his funky delivery and quirky personality, pitched San Francisco to an improbable title last fall capped off by his Game 5 performance in the World Series at Texas. The victory gave the franchise its first World Series championship since moving to San Francisco in 1958 and first since the New York Giants won in 1954.

Lincecum received a $23 million, two-year contract in February 2010 before spring training and ahead of a scheduled arbitration hearing. At the time, the two-time reigning NL Cy Young Award winner had been set to ask for an arbitration-record $13 million salary for 2010 during a hearing in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Lincecum might be searching for another deal soon.

The 27-year-old had a 2.74 ERA this season but had little run support, finishing with a 13-14 record. General manager Brian Sabean said last week, when San Francisco missed the playoffs, that keeping his club's pitching staff intact for the long haul was among his top priorities this winter.

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

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