. - Evictions:  2 Records (one in 2009 Civil filing with $0 amount, and one in 2010 Civil Judgement $1890 - both by the same property mgmt group -- Lien/Judgement Filings: 3.

@Douglas Snook is correct you need an attorney that specializes in collections, If he owes you money he probably has no valid defense for non payments and you will win a judgement relatively easy, then the hard part happens collecting on the judgemnent.  

Has anyone completed an Abstract of Judgement?

Against my better judgement, I decided to take the appointment.

If I went to get a judgement against this tenant for the balance of the lease (if I could even find them to serve court papers), the judge would tell me to go pound sand, absorb it as a business expense, go re-rent the apartment, move on with my life and quit bothering him with this "nonsense."

If your term tenant flakes out 3 months into your year lease and you find yourself in front of a judge seeking a money judgement for the balance of the term, he will tell you to put on your big boy pants, go out and find another tenant and to stop clogging up his court docket. 

One other thought - I've successfully added a clause in the lease that indicates if I have to go to court and get a judgement to collect money for anything, the tenant is on the hook for 7% per year interest on that amount.

If they move out still owing you money, get a judgement against them. 

Now its a judgement call.

Sorry for the long post - just wanted to point out that there are positive experiences to be had with Section 8 as long as you do your due diligence and use sound judgement, as you would with any other tenants!