my random roomates stuff got stolen while me and my friend were gone

[Kyanzes]

Originally posted by: kritical
I live in a 3 bedroom townhouse with my good friend and our landlord had put a third kid in. Anyway, were supposed to split up the electric bill 3 ways between all us. The random kid never had the money to pay us and kept giving is the same bs excuse all the time. We ended up just sucking it up and paying his part. Anyway we both went home for the summer and just got up now to find out his laptop and camera were stolen from his room. He called the cops and told them he owed us money and he thinks we took it. He no longer lives there but apparently hes taking us to small claims court. is there anyway this ****** can win the judgement without any proof?

How much did you get for the laptop?

 

[Fingolfin269]

You are not going to lose I wouldn't even worry about it.

I would definately go ahead and let him know that you will be suing him for his portion of the electrical bill as well. He has already admitted that he did not pay it so go ahead and counter sue. Not only will he have lost all his stuff he will also have the privelage of paying you guys some cash.

 

[Sphexi]

My question is why/how the landlord would just put someone into your townhouse? I've rented two-bedroom places before, basically small townhouses, and never would I let some random person just be placed into it with me. Sounds more like a dorm than a real townhouse, I'd hope you signed a lease or something, in which case you should've gotten to choose the third.

 

[Reggae4k]

Originally posted by: Falloutboy

Originally posted by: chambersc

Originally posted by: Reggae4k

Originally posted by: Falloutboy

Originally posted by: Reggae4k
I've have had a similar situation happen to me.

My last year in college, I wasn't getting along with my roommate well.
We both went on winter break and he was the last to leave the house.
I left a day earlier, and locked all my windows. Before i left, i told him to
check all the locks before he leaves. He forgot to lock the windows in his room
and while we were gone we both lost most of our clothes and computers.

intially, i was going to place all the blame on him and request he replace
my stolen items. but i knew an irresponsible person like him would place blame
elsewhere. i decide that i would no longer be his roommate and friend. i skipped out
on him and moved and found another place to live. my name was not on the
lease for the apt so i left the burden of the rest of the years lease on him as his punishment.

I hope you had renters insurance

i did not. i was not on the lease, and he did not have insurance either.
i lost about 3 thousand dollars worth of clothes and computer equipment.
they even stole my backup harddrive that wasnt even installed. i lost about
10 years worth of pictures and all my college papers.

3 grand worth of clothes....WOW.

clothes and computer equipment
but the clothes were worth about 2 grand.
computer less than a grand.
they didnt make out with the 19inch monitor though. i think it was too heavy.

 

[bwatson283]

even though that he has no proof, If i were you i would still find some kind of bills/recipets saying you were out of state. If you have proof and he doesnt the judge will laugh at him all day. ANY kind of recipet for when you were gone, like the store or gas station. I also agree with everyone else, file a counter claim. Sue him for the bills he didnt pay, But if he isnt on any kind of paperwork like the lease, then that might be hard to sue for. In some cases if he is not on any legal paperwork, then he may not be obligated. Then again im not a lawyer or judge.

 

[Dunbar]

Originally posted by: Sc4freak
There probably isn't enough evidence, but the odds are tilted against you. You have a motive for doing so - and your roommate has no reason to lie.

Not true, you can't just go to court and say "I think Bob stole my computer, he has the motive." You actually need some sort of proof, like he saw him do it, or a witness saw him with the property, or a witness that heard him say he stole the property. The burden of proof in a civil case is much lower, it just needs to be more likely than not to have happened, but you still need some sort of proof.

 

[sygyzy]

Originally posted by: kritical

Originally posted by: Sc4freak
There probably isn't enough evidence, but the odds are tilted against you. You have a motive for doing so - and your roommate has no reason to lie.

Of course he has a reason to lie. Hes pissed about his stuff and he wants to blame someone. Were the easy ones to blame.

Exactly. What are you smoking Sc4freak?

 

[Vincent]

Originally posted by: kritical
Anyway we both went home for the summer and just got up now to find out his laptop and camera were stolen from his room.

Your story is unclear. Who is "we"? Are you in the townhouse now or still at home for the summer? Did you continue paying rent while you were away?

 

[Kelvrick]

Originally posted by: sygyzy

Originally posted by: kritical

Originally posted by: Sc4freak
There probably isn't enough evidence, but the odds are tilted against you. You have a motive for doing so - and your roommate has no reason to lie.

Of course he has a reason to lie. Hes pissed about his stuff and he wants to blame someone. Were the easy ones to blame.

Exactly. What are you smoking Sc4freak?

Same stuff the other dumbasses smoke.

 

[BigJ]

Originally posted by: chambersc

Originally posted by: Reggae4k

Originally posted by: Falloutboy

Originally posted by: Reggae4k
I've have had a similar situation happen to me.

My last year in college, I wasn't getting along with my roommate well.
We both went on winter break and he was the last to leave the house.
I left a day earlier, and locked all my windows. Before i left, i told him to
check all the locks before he leaves. He forgot to lock the windows in his room
and while we were gone we both lost most of our clothes and computers.

intially, i was going to place all the blame on him and request he replace
my stolen items. but i knew an irresponsible person like him would place blame
elsewhere. i decide that i would no longer be his roommate and friend. i skipped out
on him and moved and found another place to live. my name was not on the
lease for the apt so i left the burden of the rest of the years lease on him as his punishment.

I hope you had renters insurance

i did not. i was not on the lease, and he did not have insurance either.
i lost about 3 thousand dollars worth of clothes and computer equipment.
they even stole my backup harddrive that wasnt even installed. i lost about
10 years worth of pictures and all my college papers.

3 grand worth of clothes....WOW.

If he had a decent suit or dress clothes, that could've easily accounted for $800-$1000.

EDIT: And he said computer equipment.

 

[randay]

wtb: used laptop and camera. paying well.

 

[kritical]

Originally posted by: randay
wtb: used laptop and camera. paying well.

haha well I was actually in the process of selling my own laptop because I never used it so you FS people might think this is ironic. But I do have receipts from places I went to at home and a movie ticket so if it does go to court, I can have some defense for myself