[Benny_7]

I had a falling out with a friend who was also a room mate for a while who moved out still owing me $. She originally told me that she would pay me what she owed but then changed her mind & said that she owed me nothing. There was never a lease or any kind of rental papers signed, just verbal agreements to split bills & rent. I carried her end of things for a period while she was out of work as she was expecting to come into some $ in the near future and would then settle up with me. While I do have some fairly strong evidence (in the forms of dated and saved text messages of me asking her for the specific amount and her replying and acknowledging that she owed me and did intend to pay me back, as well as a witness in the form of another room mate who knows of the debt and who was told by the ex room mate that she would pay me back soon)that would probably stand up in court, I don't really want to have to take her to small claims as it would probably cost more then what she owes me to go through that process. I would like to apply some pressure to her to make her pay me back outside of court. She is currently serving a year suspension on her driver's licence for a D.U.I. but continues to drive & she is going on a vacation soon with some mutual friends and knowing these things, I was wondering if there's anything I could threaten to do to prevent her from going on vacation or anything with the driving with a suspended licence that would make her want to settle up rather then deal with the consequences of my threats?

[AK lawyer]

... I would like to apply some pressure to her to make her pay me back outside of court. She is currently serving a year suspension on her driver's licence for a D.U.I. but continues to drive & she is going on a vacation soon with some mutual friends and knowing these things, I was wondering if there's anything I could threaten to do to prevent her from going on vacation or anything with the driving with a suspended licence that would make her want to settle up rather then deal with the consequences of my threats?

Threats = extortion = blackmail = felony

[Benny_7]

I get what you're saying, but let's pump the brakes on the felony charges and blackmail. How can it be called extortion or blackmail when she rightly owes me the money and all I'm talking about doing is calling the authorities on her for breaking the law?

[Benny_7]

Sorry, didn't see the comment box, see answer above for response.

[ballengerb1]

So you pay rent but have no lease with anyone? Or is there an actual lease that you signed with the owner?