Eviction - Sending a message or let it go?

[Samson Kay]

I recently took over a building and am in the process of evicting a few of the previous owners tenants. They havent paid rent in 3 months and todays the day we see them in court. 

Before we walk in though, my lawyer asks me, "Whats your bottom line, are you willing to just let them get out of the property without going to trial and trying to recoup lost rent?"

I said I want to go to trial. Heres why.

This building is occupied by a bunch of tenants who are either related or are friends with each other. I realize that chasing after the outstanding rent is a exercise in futility when it boils down to it, but I think that its important that we send a clear message to the deadbeat tenant and the other tenants, that we are not to be trifled with. And that if you dont pay we will go after you with the full extent of the law. After all, evictions are literally the only weapon we have against these kinds of tenants in state that are really leniant towards the tenant and not the landlord. So its important that everything is recorded so that they can't do this to someone else in the future.

On the flip side, the loss rent and legal expenses are piling up, so the financial side of me wants to let it slide. But to me its more than about the money, its the principle.

Thoughts?