My attorney was a PRO. He would go talk to the deadbeat tenant about 10 minutes before the court hearings would start. He would negotiate her to agree to some things. Then, he went to the bailiff 5 minutes before the hearing started and ask to be put to the top of the docket and explained that the defendant had already agreed to some things.
We would be the first ones heard, and out of there 10 minutes after the hearings started.
btw. Tenant was evicted a few weeks ago. City tried to negotiate some things with rent payment, but I was out of town in Canada. They did not make an offer to pay rent/damages/legal fees before the deadline of the eviction. Then, they made an illegal move to reschedule the eviction without my knowledge by convincing a police sergeant to change the schedule to two weeks later!
My attorney was livid! I was talking to him long-distance from Toronto on a Friday Night. He suggested I call the Sheriff Deputy who was my POC. They called me back and told me they had corrected the error and would serve another notice to the Tenant within 72 hours of the eviction (Sat morning) and it would sstill go thru at the assigned date of Tuesday.
Tuesday morning 30 minutes before the eviction, I was driving to the unit as the Sheriff had instructed me to bring a locksmith the break the lock - in case the tenant had changed them, then change the lock as soon as the Deputies had cleared the unit of people. The City worker called while I was in transit and asked me if I would accept payment and let the tenant stay... <Spider Sense Tingling> I said I would have been happy to accept a reasonable payment from the city if one had been presented to me by the deadline - Sunday (48 hours before eviction by law).
She seemed smug and told me the eviction had been rescheduled to the following week. I told her that was a mistake. The eviction is still scheduled to within the hour. She grew stern and told me "Only the Sheriff can do that!! Did you talk to the Sheriff's office!?" I said YES. She was without words and I said Thank You and hung up.
The Deputies were delayed and apologized for a conflicting scheduling error, they also had 17 evictions slated for that day.
Five Deputies followed me to the elvator. My Tenant happened to be getting off. Uneasy, as we all crammed in. Nice Day! I chimed to the group as we went up.
Tenant said she was told it was rescheduled. Deputies said she had been notified Saturday. She hadn't even started packing.
Deputies gave her social service number to get a room and storage somewhere. She had until 5PM, and I was to lock the doors and re-open at 8AM the next day and give her til 10:30 AM to finally lock her out. If anyone stays beyond 10:30 AM I was authorized to call 9-1-1 and someone would be there to arrest Tresspassers.
I actually gave them til 7:30 PM the first night before locking the door, and then I even came early to open the place up at 7:30. Final lockout came at 10:36 AM as she was still trying to pack a box. I kicked a box of dishes out of the kitchen and locked the door. Total still owed $13,600 (rent, late fees, legal fees) and $550 for the locksmith.
Place reeks of pot, she had her adult son, who by the paystubs left behind only made $152 a month and spent his days laying on the couch (which reeked of pot) smoking and playing x-box (abandoned and power supply cut up). Hookahs, bongs, and roach clips everywhere. Beds disassembled and missing parts, two sofas left in the hall which did not fit the elevator (I brought a chainsaw to cut them apart and drag them down to the dump area). Closet full of clothes left behind - (now donated to Goodwill), Kitchen appliances (donated to Goodwill). Place is in general good condition other than the persistent stench of pot. Using ozone generator to remove smell. Cleaning carpet and paitning is all that is needed.
btw. My Lawer was livid when he heard they tried to entrap me by calling the morning of the eviction and getting me to some agreement. I gave him the name of the city worker and number.
