Wow...just got linked here from a site called "E-mails from crazy people" which was on delicious.
Your'e right about JJB. I got a letter from them when I filed a suit against someone a few years back. The show pays the "winner" of the case. The good thing about that is you don't have to worry about the check clearing :) I'd LOOOVE to see this landlord on national television...that would be quite a sight!
Krika Krika
· 5 months ago
Woah man! Nice, be sure if they do accept your case to post the air date and time! Ill be sure to tune in!
grmff
· 5 months ago
I loved your story. I read you from across the ocean, being landlord myself. It gave me good ideas in order to deal professionnaly with my renters...
Thanks a lot, and keep us informed...
Sarah T.
· 5 months ago
Just chiming in to say: a) Thank you for suffering for our benefit :) 2) Yeah, the upside of going on court-style mediation is that you're guaranteed a paycheck. If you take Gary to small claims court and the judge rules in your favor, you still have the responsibility of collection the money.
shadowatch
· 5 months ago
All this could have been avoided if you had just gotten the BAC of the landlord to begin with. I only rent from people who have a blood alcohol level of .8 at any given time. I guess hindsight is 40/20 and at least you know someone with amazing grammar and l33t skillz.
GDad
· 5 months ago
Best of luck. I would love to see that.
ivantis
· 5 months ago
This is pretty interesting, I want to know how it turns out
Mary
· 5 months ago
A number of years back, I took my ex on the People's Court. They fly you to NYC, put you up in different hotels in mid-town, pay the judgment to the winner and give each party and appearance fee, then $200someodd.
B-RAD
· 5 months ago
Dude, you've GOT to find a way to put this guy on Judge Joe Brown. It's the only way you are going to see any money from this. (Although the hilarity of the situation is a reward itself). Even if you get a judgment in small claims, people like Gary are usually "judgment-proof".
earthlingmike
· 5 months ago
Alright, these folks saying that even if the court rules in your favor you still have to collect the money yourself: I simply don't think that's true. It's probably different for different places, but I was considering a small claims court once and the court had ways of obtaining the money. The court would have wanted to know what bank the douchebag might have an account with, and any property he had like a car for example. The court would have been able to seize and liquidate that property if necessary to get you the money.
Sarah T.
· 5 months ago
Yes there are ways of asking the court or legals system to step in and encourage the defendant to pay a judgment in small claims court. I'm not a lawyer, but here's a pretty good article on the various legal methods that may be available in your area.
Note that most of them involve time and money. Usually the court does not start any of these proceedings automatically - I understand that in most cases they will want the plaintiff to make an effort in negotiating a settlement before stepping in. Also, each step of these proceedings will probably involve getting up in front of a judge, either with or without Gary.
The cost of collecting on the judgment may be included, but Gabe should be prepared to go back to court several times. He should be prepared to find out that Gary only has joint accounts that can't be garnished... that he has no property in his name... that he keeps no money on-site that could be collected by a sheriff... that he is his own employer and thus will refuse to garnish his own wages... basically any and every excuse to keep from paying. I have second-hand experience of such proceedings.
Another alternative would be for Gary to simply refuse to show up to one hearing, in which case a warrant might be issued for his arrest. Of course, it's pretty clear that Gary isn't afraid of a night or two in jail.
elayne
· 4 months ago
Not necessarily. Depends on where the person lives. I live in Texas, took a former employer to small claims court for unpaid wages, and had to file a lien on her property because she flat out refused to pay. I did not collect until she died a few years later. The good news: When I did collect, it was with penalties and 10% interest, and the estate had enough funding to cover the entire amount. A few other employees (who she'd screwed over the same way) filed after I did, but were not able to collect their judgments (in full), because the estate's money ran out.
It's possible that other states/jurisdictions do have systems in place for court seizures and liquidations, but the point of Small Claims Court is (generally) that it's amounts that are not significant enough to bother the "real court" with, so it seems unlikely to me that they'd get involved beyond the point of wage garnishment, which is not legal in many locations.
Name
· 5 months ago
What the Fock would a bipolor queer be doing in another focking country boy? What you going to be the Queen of the focking ball? You focking CUNT
That is just like you to run off you fucking bi polor faggot!/ COWARD
LOL
tinaciouscom
· 5 months ago
LOL this would be awesome TV. Your blog inspired me to create a blog for this ridiculous lawsuit I'm involved in myself.
So thanks for that!
Mike
· 5 months ago
You have got to get your priorities straight! Appearing on Judge Joe Brown is a must! :)
Emily
· 5 months ago
You *must* appear on Judge Joe Brown! Even if you have to come back to the US just to appear in court! If money is a problem, put up a Paypal donate button and have your readers contribute. I know I would. :)
Buzzy
· 5 months ago
Good Lord. I hope you get on Judge Joe Brown, I would TiVo that for sure! Your blog makes me really appreciate my landlord...
Stacy Chubb
· 5 months ago
wow.... I are really looking forward to the updates. This is sooo sooo soo funny!!! I agree with the paypal donation. I would sure donate just to watch that!!! Being a renter and landlord myself makes me appreciate my landlord and I am thinking about sending a link of this to my tenants....lol
Name
· 5 months ago
My friend posted this in a private forum she and I share, and I must say that this is a truly incredible blog. I look forward to possibly seeing the whole thing unfold on tv.
mariam67
· 4 months ago
I really hope you get on Joe Brown. I would love to see you and Gary duke it out in person. Please do whatever you can to get on tv! :-) I am really enjoying this epic, hope there's more to come soon!
Trina
· 4 months ago
Hah! Great site. I wish ANY other court show would pick this up though, I can't stand Joe Brown.
Kai
· 4 months ago
Whether Judge Joe Brown is tolerable or not, he's the best choice, I would think, as he, or at least his character (can never tell, these days, when it comes to the media), has absolutely no tolerance for racism or bigotry, and Gary seems to have those in spades. It would make Gabe's "slam-dunk" case all the more easy (if that's even possible). I wonder, though, how it will last the full episode length before poor Joe blows a fuse, lol.
brittany143
· 4 months ago
Oh man, I would take off work, ditch my friends, and hold off on having sex if you actually went on the show. It has really been a pleasure reading your absurd story at 5am. Wish you the best in getting your 500+ back!
P.S. Was Gary from Indiana too? I think that would almost make the story more humors. You see I've been living in IN for a few years now and Gary-Types of people seem too reek havoc on this state! (Or at least the city of fort wayne)
audria
· 4 months ago
Gary sounds a lot like the "globe-trotting, doctor/lawyer with properties all over the world and is the son of a British bank magnate" landlord I got suckered in by, and who turned out to be an unemployed, food-stamp collecting fraudster who collected security deposits on a foreclosed property from unsuspecting renters only to evict them soon after they moved in (all the while looking for new roommates from which to collect more security deposits.)
This is a sickness, and I'm sorry you got suckered into this too. I had a 5-year old daughter with me when this happened to us, luckily Gary only victimized you. Be sure to keep us posted, I love how you're handling him!
Daryl
· 4 months ago
LOVING this blog, for the record. Good luck in the upcoming months - though I don't think you'll need it against this guy.
All Comments
Your'e right about JJB. I got a letter from them when I filed a suit against someone a few years back. The show pays the "winner" of the case. The good thing about that is you don't have to worry about the check clearing :) I'd LOOOVE to see this landlord on national television...that would be quite a sight!
Thanks a lot, and keep us informed...
a) Thank you for suffering for our benefit :)
2) Yeah, the upside of going on court-style mediation is that you're guaranteed a paycheck. If you take Gary to small claims court and the judge rules in your favor, you still have the responsibility of collection the money.
Note that most of them involve time and money. Usually the court does not start any of these proceedings automatically - I understand that in most cases they will want the plaintiff to make an effort in negotiating a settlement before stepping in. Also, each step of these proceedings will probably involve getting up in front of a judge, either with or without Gary.
The cost of collecting on the judgment may be included, but Gabe should be prepared to go back to court several times. He should be prepared to find out that Gary only has joint accounts that can't be garnished... that he has no property in his name... that he keeps no money on-site that could be collected by a sheriff... that he is his own employer and thus will refuse to garnish his own wages... basically any and every excuse to keep from paying. I have second-hand experience of such proceedings.
Another alternative would be for Gary to simply refuse to show up to one hearing, in which case a warrant might be issued for his arrest. Of course, it's pretty clear that Gary isn't afraid of a night or two in jail.
It's possible that other states/jurisdictions do have systems in place for court seizures and liquidations, but the point of Small Claims Court is (generally) that it's amounts that are not significant enough to bother the "real court" with, so it seems unlikely to me that they'd get involved beyond the point of wage garnishment, which is not legal in many locations.
What you going to be the Queen of the focking ball? You focking CUNT
That is just like you to run off you fucking bi polor faggot!/ COWARD
LOL
So thanks for that!
I look forward to possibly seeing the whole thing unfold on tv.
P.S. Was Gary from Indiana too? I think that would almost make the story more humors. You see I've been living in IN for a few years now and Gary-Types of people seem too reek havoc on this state! (Or at least the city of fort wayne)
This is a sickness, and I'm sorry you got suckered into this too. I had a 5-year old daughter with me when this happened to us, luckily Gary only victimized you. Be sure to keep us posted, I love how you're handling him!