Civil lawsuit alleges motive in killing of tenant in San Francisco's Outer Sunset

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- A newly filed wrongful death lawsuit alleges a possible motive in the case of a retired dentist accused of killing his tenant in San Francisco's Sunset District.

The civil complaint, filed on behalf of the victim's son, accuses landlord Philippe Chagniot of murdering tenant Eric Bigone in order to sell his 47th Avenue property without a renter inside. The allegations have not been proven in court.

According to the 20-page lawsuit, Chagniot and his wife are accused of taking drastic steps to remove Bigone, including a campaign of harassment in the months leading up to the alleged killing.

"The situation prior to this terrible crime was a mundane one. A landlord wants to sell the property, possibly desperate to sell the tenant out, needs the tenant out," said Steve MacDonald, an attorney who has specialized in landlord-tenant law since 1982.

San Francisco's rent ordinance requires landlords to have "just cause" to evict tenants. If a landlord wants to sell a property, the law requires them to pay thousands of dollars in relocation expenses. MacDonald said Chagniot did not do that.

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"He didn't know or he reacted emotionally to the concept and couldn't get his head around it and then resorted to violence," MacDonald said.

Prosecutors allege Chagniot shot Bigone with a MAC-10 submachine gun equipped with a silencer.

The civil lawsuit claims that Chagniot required rent to be paid in cash and alleges he "demanded that all rent be paid in cash so they did not have to report those earnings to the state and federal government on their taxes." The family says Bigone had been paying $3,200 a month in cash since 2023.

The complaint alleges Chagniot "began a campaign of harassment towards Bigone," including sending unlawful notices to enter the unit without reasonable notice. It also claims Chagniot and his wife "repeatedly threatened Bigone with eviction if he refused them access," attempted to intimidate him, refused to accept rent and falsely claimed they would invoke the Ellis Act.

The Ellis Act is a state law that allows landlords to evict tenants when they are withdrawing a property from the rental market, though it requires compensation.

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MacDonald said aggressive landlord tactics are not uncommon.

"The near equivalent is a lockout or turning off the heat," he said.

According to the complaint, a day after the alleged killing, Chagniot sent a condolence message to Bigone's son, and Chagniot's wife called to offer condolences and ask when the son would vacate the home.

"It's extraordinarily callous. It reminds me of 'The Sopranos.' Show up at funerals and offer condolences. Very sordid," MacDonald said.

MacDonald also pointed to financial incentive as a possible factor.

"The price of the house may be $200,000 more (when it's) empty," he said. "This is what's driving this."

The alleged motive has not been proven in court.

The victim's son is seeking general, punitive and other damages in the lawsuit. An attorney for the defendants did not respond to a request for comment on the civil case.

Chagniot is scheduled to return to court Aug. 28, when a preliminary hearing will be set for his criminal trial.