In September, 2007, my best friend at the time and I moved into a great new apartment in Brooklyn. Because our combined incomes were not enough to get the apartment, my parents agreed to co-sign. Because of this, only my name had to be on the lease. Regrettfully, I did not require that my friend sign a contract for me because we had lived together previously and have had a close, non-romantic relationship for almost 6 years and I trusted her to follow through. In December, 2007, she flew home to Ohio for Christmas, and after 2 weeks there decided that she couldn't afford to be here. During those 2 weeks I had sent her numerous messages with no response. Finally, on January 7, 2008 she sent me an email apologizing and promised to pay me back for the December rent that she still owed and would continue to pay rent until I found a roommate. I did find a new roommate and she moved in on February 1, 2008. My old roommate owes me $4,350.00 total as this comprises the December rent ($1050/person), January rent, one month's broker's fee (which she promised in September to pay me back over time) and half the cost to put up walls in our loft apartment (about $975). I would like to sue her for all of this money, but do I have a case? I regretfully didn't make her sign anything as I trusted her. However, I do have some proof I believe...

1. Emails from her saying she would pay me back
2. Current mail still being sent to my apartment
3. Many of her belongings are still in my apartment (including clothes, DVDs and a laptop)
4. A letter that I sent her in January detailing most of this that I received no response
5. A copy of my local video rental store contract that shows her name as a person who can use my membership
6. One copy of the payement that she directly deposited into my checking account for rent
7. I also have many friends (including mutual friends) who could back me up

I thought I would also take copies of my apartment lease, monthly apartment bills and anything else that could help. Does anyone have any advice? Am I completely out of luck or is there proof in what I have? Should I look for any other documents that I might not have? Any advice is greatly appreciated! Thanks for reading!

I think as long as you have an email from her and the email address it was sent from is registered to her saying that she agrees she owes this then you should be able to get some if not all that she owes you, just a matter of getting her to court to sue her, but make sure when you do you bring all documentation you have supporting this and if there was any agreement for you to pay her anything make sure you recognize that as well, now you said you had new walls put up in your loft is this the new place you would have shared together? You may not be able to get anything for that because she really didn't live there that long I would call an attorney

Let me ask you a question. If you do sue her (which you can) just how are you going to collect the money she owes you if she is living in Ohio? Have you gotten that figured out yet?