Help?? my x-landlord has responded to my small claims ...

What state are you in?

I am in WA state and my court is in one hour. I am worried about the counter suit he filed against me for damages. That one is in two weeks on the 28th. Just check on www.ripoffreport.com and searce for Cory colvin and Colvico. Or check the Spokane WA local news for stories about the old Hillyard High School, the Martindale (not sure if spelled right) apartments. He is my x-landlord. The damage was caused by the crack in the concreate foundation that he fixed one and a half months after I moved out and I have pictures of that too. Please help?? I'm scared!!

You should bring up the counter suit to the judge at todays hearing and bring the pictures and your evidence. He has done this as a way to scare you an d no judge is going to rule in a landlord favor for a crack in the surface concrete of a building who claim it is due to the tenant. Bring all the papers regarding that claim and you might be able to get the judge to dismiss the counter suit as frivolous in todays hearing.

Good luck. If you have any other related questions please let me know. If you found this answer helpful please accept so I can continue to help others like you in the future. Thank you.

Hello Bill, I had to run to get there in time and I'm sorry I did not get this in time. I agree that it should work that way. The judge was not the judge that the court paper said we would have. I was not allowes to show my video of the flooded basement and also denied to let my witness testify on my behalf. His photos were more close up than mine and it was impossiable to say what picture went to what room, the same complaint the judge said about mine but he allowed the x-landlords pictures to count. The other pictures also were not taken the same time as mine and someone wrote on the frig and walls and broke the doors. Even though the damage was not proven to be mine, and some was, but not 500$ worth, and the judge still ruled against me. Cory had no wittnesses to say it was all mine and only took the carpet off the list of my "damage" when he learned I had that video, but he stated that I had a history of "filthyness" again with no proof. I had proof of the damage to my things while living there like my yard swing being burnt to the ground, police report for that, but was not allowed to show it. He admitted that there was no walk through either before or after i lived there but was still awarded the 500$ dollers. I was awarded 500$ for the deposite but I dont think I was treated fairly because he was able to slam me and I was not able to show all my evidance. What do I do now? If I was ruled against now, how do I fix it with being able to show all the evidance? And will the new judge let me show all my evidance? He even has a statement from the very people that the police reports were placed on.

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Hello Bill,

I followed your advice, well it came in a few minutes after I had to leave, however my niece called me and told me. Thank you for helping me. The judge didn't even give me the option to stay the countersuit till the origional date. The land lord lied and the judge would not even listen to my witness on that issue. Cory Colvin, the x-landlord, slandered my name saying we are filthy and should be cps involved. He had nieghbors who are alcholics write letters to him in regards to issues that never happened. I was informed by another neighbor that Cory let in the neighbor kids to vandalize it a little so he could take pictures of it as long as they didn't use permant markers. When I asked to show the video of the flooding and my proof of how I got out in the time limit alotted, even being on housing and going through their hoops, the judge just said "Mam, quiet, I'll get to you in a minute on that." He never did allow it, but said that it was unnessairy, nor would he look at my pictures. Can I fix this? He ruled "for the deffendant" in both cases, saying that way we both won without getting judgements against us. I had no time to get statements from the school district to tel abuse my kids suffered from those same kids he used, nor the police about the yard swing being burnt to the ground, my car being stollen and wrecked, my dog being poisened, my other video of those same kids harassing and threatening my kids and throwing rocks at them while kicking punching and scratching my van that was parked next to them. i had turned that video to the cops station. Just a few days before Cory kicked me out. That is why I left volentairily (sorry I cant spell well). I was not prepaired to have that case yesterday and even if I was I do not feel that judge was listening. All this info was bieng relayed to Cory and he's the one who told me to go to the police. When I did, and they started to take action he decided to take that oppertunity to say bye. I guess I should not have complained about the safety of my children and the health hasards at the same time?

Shoul I let this go ar fight?

Only if you want to spend the emotional time and energy on this. If todays ruling ends all this you are better of moving forward then taking chances with future law suits that only drain your emotional and financial resources. Just learn for the future (which is what I do) and be very careful to make sure you inspect every place you rent and do all communications with future landlord in writing (certified mail if need be).

Take care.