[hunter63]

Here is my situation. I was living for two years in an apartment complex and was an ideal tenant always paying my rent and utilities. My neighbor, who I got to know by grilling in the evenings etc, came to me and said he was having surgery and would be on disability but it would not be enough to cover his rent and utilities and asked if I would help him. Being a kind person I told my roommate we could upgrade to a larger apartment so he could afford to live until he got back to work and then we would both get our own apartments after the lease expired. I paid the initial move in fee myself for both of us after the roommate told me I would be paid later. The check I was given by the roommate for the first months rent bounced causing me almost $200.00 in bounced check fees to my account. The roommate finally paid what I was owed a month later. The roommate then insisted that I give a check to him for my half of the utilities and he would pay the utilities himself. He never paid any of the utilities for 3 months and used the money I had given him for his own debts etc. We received a disconnection notice from the electric company. The TV service was eventually disconnected. He then got confrontational with me one evening for no reason and called 911 trying to have me arrested. The police could find no reason for his allegations and refused to even file a police report. I left and moved my belongings since the power was soon to be disconnected and I needed to use my computer for my livelihood and I couldn't take the emotional instability of the roommate. I had helped him during his recovery and even walked his dog, took him to the doctor etc. I have the copy of the checks I wrote for my share of the utilities and the disconnection notice and paperwork from the power company. I went to the leasing company and explained my situation and I signed a release request offering to pay my half of the penalty fee for early removal from the lease (one month) and even gave up the security deposit. The roommate is now suing me for the money for the rest of the lease since they will have him evicted. I am going to take all this information to the judge and show all the documented proof. I just want out of this situation without paying too much. Can you give any ideas or suggestions?

[rockinmommy]

It sound like you are absolutely on the right track and have a good paper trail. One thing I would suggest is filing a counter suit for every penny that he has cost you because of this debacle. I think it takes you off the defense and puts you back on more even ground.

This is one of those situations where the judge is going to have to make a lot of "judgements". Technically, you could be held liable for your share of the lease. In this case there are obviously extenuating factors in your favor, so I would imagine you won't come out too bad. I think countersuing shows that you didn't just walk away from this scott free. You actually walked away with money out of your pocket because of this dishonest person who was clearly trying to take advantage of you.