Ex-roommate refuses to pay rent and deposit back
Hi,
I moved in with someone I considered like a brother into an apartment in Philadelphia in May 2005. I knew him for over a year and a half before we moved in together when he was in college and I had started working. He would have money issues and I would pay for his share of the rent and utilities. He would always repay me back.
I moved to columbus in August 2006. He decided to stay in the apartment and got a friend of his to take over my lease. I was supposed to get my share of the deposit from the friend as well as the remainder of the rent and utility bills which totalled about $1500. Both of them mentioned that they would pay me asap. I left without taking any money as I felt I was dealing with someone real close to me.
I have emails from him (September) stating I will get all the money from him and that I should not worry about it. Recently, he stopped answering my calls and emails. I still felt that it was nothing serious as he was really close to me. I met him last week when I went down to Philadelphia and he gave me about $500 back. Today I received an email from him stating that he is not going to pay me any more and some other personal stuff about how he's going to screw me because I apparently have been using him all this while!
The personal stuff aside, I am contemplating suing him in a small claims court. We didn't have any roommate agreement but used an excel sheet where we kept tally of all payments and stuff. Before I left, we orally agreed upon the amount that I should be receiving. I am wondering if I have a strong enough case to sue him in court. I have emails which state he owes me money. I have the email where he said he won't pay me anymore. I was taken off the lease in August but haven't received my share of the deposit. Please help. I realize I am being screwed over and am still in shock from the email that I received today. Its not pretty.
Muchos Gracias.