City Citation on Owner Finance/RTO Property

[Anne Amagrande]

I am new to Rent-To-Own/Lease-To-Own Investor. I received a citation on a property I have with a Rent to Own Resident. Per the lease the resident needs to maintain the grounds. It was never taken care of and I received a citation and a court date. I have since taken care of the dead tree for which the citation is for...

BTW..The City of Phoenix who wrote the citation informed the resident it was not his responsibility to remove the tree, even though it is in his lease agreement AND it is an owner finance arrangement....

Question 1: Do I need to go to court being that the violation has been fixed? OR can I go to the City of Phoenix and get this remedied on the grounds that it was the responsibility of the (RTO/Owner Financed) resident?

Question 2: Can I have an attorney represent myself and my JV partner in the hearing if I cannot avoid the proceeding?