On October 1, 2008 I moved into a residence that I believed was being leased by an acquaintance of mine who was looking for a roommate. Later that month due to a needed repair I contacted the office to inform them, when I was told that someone else was listed as the leaser not my roommate. I asked the roommate about why his name wasn't on the lease and he said that his cousin leased the apartment but had to return to Chicago for a family emergency. He said that all was well, and I left the issue alone and conducted my own investigation.
I paid my share of the rent and was told by the landlord that I was illegally occupying the residence I tried everything I could to stay there but my credit wasn't so good. The cousin who leased the apartment never signed the lease. The landlord served all three of us an eviction notice. The roommate withheld the notice until I was served a summons to appear in civil court on forcible entry charges, as well as payment of the rent. I was informed of the summons while I was in Chicago making arrangements to move out.
We went to court and settled out, with no judgment as long as we vacated the residence and paid legal fees and rent. A couple days before I went to court my plasma TV was taken from the residence. my roommate said he took it over a friend's house because the apartment complex was making repairs while I was gone. I packed my belongings, he said I would get the TV after court. Then when we returned to the residence the roommate and his cousin forced me to sign a contract saying I would pay them (not the property management Co.) half of the fees amounting to 750 dollars then I would get my TV back. One blocked the door and the other stood over me. I signed it to appease them and then left the hostile situation. I needed the property returned that day because one: it was mine and 2: I had to drive home (300 miles away).
I then went to a mutual friend's house to retrieve some property, and they showed up asking when I was going pay them. I took my property and went straight to the local police department. I discussed the situation with the officer, and he contacted the roommate and told him that if he didn't return the property Crimmy share of the rent paid before criminal charges would be filed. He said that he wanted the money and he would give it back. The officer gave him 4 hours to return it before he filed the complaint. To cover all the bases I rent to the rental company and got receipts of my payments I made to them: rent, and late fees. I paid a full two months rent and a half a third month inwhich I did not stay there. He returned the TV but still has the contract.
Am I obligated to pay legal fees? Is there anyway out of this contract? Do i have to pay deposits he made before I moved in?
I paid my share of the rent and was told by the landlord that I was illegally occupying the residence I tried everything I could to stay there but my credit wasn't so good. The cousin who leased the apartment never signed the lease. The landlord served all three of us an eviction notice. The roommate withheld the notice until I was served a summons to appear in civil court on forcible entry charges, as well as payment of the rent. I was informed of the summons while I was in Chicago making arrangements to move out.
We went to court and settled out, with no judgment as long as we vacated the residence and paid legal fees and rent. A couple days before I went to court my plasma TV was taken from the residence. my roommate said he took it over a friend's house because the apartment complex was making repairs while I was gone. I packed my belongings, he said I would get the TV after court. Then when we returned to the residence the roommate and his cousin forced me to sign a contract saying I would pay them (not the property management Co.) half of the fees amounting to 750 dollars then I would get my TV back. One blocked the door and the other stood over me. I signed it to appease them and then left the hostile situation. I needed the property returned that day because one: it was mine and 2: I had to drive home (300 miles away).
I then went to a mutual friend's house to retrieve some property, and they showed up asking when I was going pay them. I took my property and went straight to the local police department. I discussed the situation with the officer, and he contacted the roommate and told him that if he didn't return the property Crimmy share of the rent paid before criminal charges would be filed. He said that he wanted the money and he would give it back. The officer gave him 4 hours to return it before he filed the complaint. To cover all the bases I rent to the rental company and got receipts of my payments I made to them: rent, and late fees. I paid a full two months rent and a half a third month inwhich I did not stay there. He returned the TV but still has the contract.
Am I obligated to pay legal fees? Is there anyway out of this contract? Do i have to pay deposits he made before I moved in?
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