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Small claims win over a $1,200 deposit, but the judge cut my damages in half
My old landlord kept my $1,200 security deposit after I moved out of my place in Logan Square back in March, so I filed in Cook County small claims court and finally got my hearing date on Tuesday. I brought photos, my move-out checklist, and texts where he admitted the place was clean, and the judge ruled in my favor but only gave me $600 because I could not prove the exact cost of the repairs he claimed. Has anyone else dealt with a judge splitting the difference like this, and is it worth appealing or should I just take the $600 and move on?
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wade_kelly771d ago
My buddy went through almost the same thing in Skokie a couple years back, landlord kept his deposit, he had pics and everything, and the judge still knocked it down because he could not show what the fixes actually cost. The judge basically said the landlord did not prove his side either, so they met in the middle and called it done. He was mad for a week but then looked into appealing and found out you have to pay more fees and show the judge messed up on the law, not just that you disagree with the number. For 600 bucks that math does not work out, you would burn way more time and money chasing it than you would ever get back. Take the check, cash it fast before the guy drags his feet, and tell everyone you know to take date stamped photos and get repair quotes in writing next time.
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