A 68-year-old San Francisco landlord stands accused of murdering his tenant in a calculated attack over a rental dispute, now facing both criminal charges and a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the victim’s family.
Philippe Chagniot was arrested on May 27 and charged with the murder of 58-year-old Eric Bigone, who had been renting a property in the Outer Sunset neighborhood since 2023. The civil lawsuit, filed Tuesday in San Francisco Superior Court by Bigone’s son Dino, alleges that Chagniot and his wife orchestrated the killing after months of attempting to force the tenant from the property.
According to the lawsuit, the conflict began in January when the Chagniots started pressuring Eric Bigone to vacate the rental property. The complaint details a pattern of harassment that included sending unlawful notices to enter the premises, threatening eviction proceedings, and refusing to accept the $3,200 monthly rent payments. These actions allegedly stemmed from the couple’s desire to sell the property without an existing tenant.
The fatal confrontation occurred on the morning of May 17. According to prosecutors and the civil complaint, Chagniot set fire to Eric Bigone’s car, then waited for the tenant to emerge from his residence to extinguish the flames. When Bigone came outside to address the fire, Chagniot allegedly shot him in the back using a silenced, fully automatic Mac-10 firearm. Prosecutors state that a second shot was fired after Bigone had already fallen to the ground.
Security footage reportedly captured Chagniot fleeing the scene on a bicycle. Prosecutors note that the defendant wore dark clothing and a mask during the incident and had spray-painted security cameras in the area in an apparent attempt to conceal his actions.
The civil lawsuit reveals disturbing details about the aftermath of the killing. Dino Bigone claims that Chagniot’s wife contacted him the day after his father’s death, ostensibly to offer condolences while simultaneously inquiring about when he would vacate the property. The complaint alleges she had full knowledge of her husband’s involvement in the murder.
Chagniot himself allegedly sent a text message to Dino Bigone that same day, expressing condolences and stating that no one should have to experience such tragedy. When the victim’s son requested the return of his father’s security deposit, attorneys representing the Chagniots claimed no deposit existed. They also informed him that his father’s tenancy had been terminated due to his death and that they intended to take possession of the property by June 1.
Chagniot has pleaded not guilty to murder and gun charges and remains in custody without bail. The civil lawsuit filed by Dino Bigone includes ten separate claims against Chagniot, his wife, and unnamed defendants. These claims encompass wrongful death, survivorship, battery, breach of contract, and negligence.
The lawsuit seeks multiple forms of relief, including general damages to cover medical expenses and lost income, as well as punitive damages. The complaint characterizes the defendants as having violent and socially maladaptive tendencies, describing the killing as executed with a high degree of cruelty, viciousness, and callousness.
Dino Bigone has also requested a court order preventing the defendants from transferring or selling the disputed property while the legal proceedings are ongoing. This injunction would effectively freeze any attempts by the Chagniots to profit from the property at the center of this tragic dispute.
The case highlights the extreme escalation of a landlord-tenant dispute in San Francisco’s competitive real estate market, where property values and rental regulations often create tension between property owners and tenants.
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