About a year and a half ago I had a tenant give notice, skip the last month's rent, and move out. She was a chronic late pay, so when she didn't pay her last payment I was swift with the five-day notice. Her response was outrage. Her excuse was that she "knew" I had no intention of returning her SD so she kept the last rent payment in return.

I filed a claim for everything I could document, including holdover for the days past the expiration of the five-day. This was my first time in court and I didn't know how much the judge would want to reduce it. Lo, she didn't show up and the full amount was granted! She was outraged when she found out and filed an appeal, which was denied. Ignoring a summons because you're moving is not considered a valid reason for skipping court.

I found out when I got a letter from Judge Mathis that she'd filed a claim against me. I have besmirched her reputation and she wants her day in court, again. Except that she wasn't able to serve me before the court date, so she didn't show up.

I find this mildly amusing, but annoying. I live a couple of states away now, and while I can show up in court and destroy her case quite easily, I have more important things to do with my time. Is there any way to keep her from repeatedly filing suit for something that's already been decided?

If Judge Mathis going to pay your expenses and a fee for appearing? If so p, go and destroy her.

Robin,

Mathis? No way! I've never seen a LL respected on those shows.

It's done. Ignore her. Don't feed the trolls.

Except to drag her back in for collections. I LOVE body attachments! for FAILURE TO APPEAR.

Anyone can file a case against someone else in small claims court. They can not file a false police report, that is a crime.

I guess I should have clarified. I found out my tenant had filed in small claims court (and then not showed) when I got a letter from Judge Mathis.

I watch some of these court shows for my CLE classes !!

Judge Judy will tell tenants in no uncertain terms they lived there, they've got to pay.... if it wasn't good enough, they should have moved. She will give VERY little to the landlord for damages or cleaning. Not too long ago she didn't give the landlord anything for damages because they made a large profit selling the building ...no consideration to market conditions or perhaps getting a higher sales price without those damages.

Judge Milian discounts cleaning and damages down to minimal cost seemingly not taking into consideration that a little bit here and a little bit there add up to a lot in the end when you're paying someone.

LOL - Way back when I was with the newspaper I got a call from the Maury Povich show to appear in relation to my nightclub column. I forget the parameters, people who met in bars or something. (Our column was responsible for several marriages, and a couple of divorces. LOL ) Anyway they offered me $100 and travel costs to NY (I think it was) in February. Big spenders.