Comments on: Landlord harasses murder victim's mother for early termination fees because her son was killed before his lease ran out http://boingboing.net/2009/04/26/landlord-harasses-mu.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Sun, 26 May 2013 07:31:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: EH http://boingboing.net/2009/04/26/landlord-harasses-mu.html#comment-481280 EH Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-481280 #58: Sucks to be her, but whatever. #58: Sucks to be her, but whatever.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/04/26/landlord-harasses-mu.html#comment-808707 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-808707 They are not all about money. If that were the case they would not Terminate the leases of tenants that pay rent on time in full every month. In my complex, the manager does basically nothing but play activities coordinator and social director. The "town drunk" Decides who her next victim(s) will be and has friends and family call in anonymous complaints, telling them that this person is awful and she can't live w/ this person(s) around. They drop like horseflies by us. Consequently this is the manager's special friend. 2 Families who have never gotten one warning, have had no problems w/ anyone, who keep to themselves, are being forced to move...lease terminated...single mothers w/ multiple children, working to give their children good lives. CCRT are ruthless, cold hearted and thrive off other's misery. What they did to this mother, what they are doing to these mothers now...given a month to leave, or pay legal costs of an eviction...they are horrible slum lords. They are not all about money. If that were the case they would not Terminate the leases of tenants that pay rent on time in full every month. In my complex, the manager does basically nothing but play activities coordinator and social director. The “town drunk” Decides who her next victim(s) will be and has friends and family call in anonymous complaints, telling them that this person is awful and she can’t live w/ this person(s) around. They drop like horseflies by us. Consequently this is the manager’s special friend. 2 Families who have never gotten one warning, have had no problems w/ anyone, who keep to themselves, are being forced to move…lease terminated…single mothers w/ multiple children, working to give their children good lives. CCRT are ruthless, cold hearted and thrive off other’s misery. What they did to this mother, what they are doing to these mothers now…given a month to leave, or pay legal costs of an eviction…they are horrible slum lords.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/04/26/landlord-harasses-mu.html#comment-475915 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-475915 I am employed by the same school district in which Colin worked. It is so sad to have lost such a promising young teacher who the students really looked up to. This whole story is so heartbreaking... a young man attempting to help a group of ladies in trouble outside of a bar and he gets killed in the process. This landlord must have no heart if she is trying to enforce this early termination fee. I wish she could have put herself in the place of Colin's mother for just a second, and then maybe she wouldn't have imposed such a ridiculous claim on a grieving family. I am employed by the same school district in which Colin worked. It is so sad to have lost such a promising young teacher who the students really looked up to. This whole story is so heartbreaking… a young man attempting to help a group of ladies in trouble outside of a bar and he gets killed in the process. This landlord must have no heart if she is trying to enforce this early termination fee. I wish she could have put herself in the place of Colin’s mother for just a second, and then maybe she wouldn’t have imposed such a ridiculous claim on a grieving family.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/04/26/landlord-harasses-mu.html#comment-475665 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-475665 Added one more to the comments coming their way. BTW, the sheer falsehood of that lawyer's letter ought to be a trigger for ethical hearings in the Wisconsin Bar Association. Anyone feel like doing the research to get THAT ball rolling? I don't suppose anyone but Mr. Byars's mother is eligible to submit the complaint, but if she were to find what she needed for that, it would be pretty damned sweet. Added one more to the comments coming their way. BTW, the sheer falsehood of that lawyer’s letter ought to be a trigger for ethical hearings in the Wisconsin Bar Association. Anyone feel like doing the research to get THAT ball rolling? I don’t suppose anyone but Mr. Byars’s mother is eligible to submit the complaint, but if she were to find what she needed for that, it would be pretty damned sweet.

]]> By: General Specific http://boingboing.net/2009/04/26/landlord-harasses-mu.html#comment-475441 General Specific Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-475441 That is repugnant. That is repugnant.

]]> By: SpookyInteraction http://boingboing.net/2009/04/26/landlord-harasses-mu.html#comment-475443 SpookyInteraction Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-475443 Industrial-grade douchery. Industrial-grade douchery.

]]> By: hydrophiliak http://boingboing.net/2009/04/26/landlord-harasses-mu.html#comment-475444 hydrophiliak Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-475444 Does this landlord have a long black mustache and high collared cape? Does this landlord have a long black mustache and high collared cape?

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/04/26/landlord-harasses-mu.html#comment-475703 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-475703 I think the parents should let the greedy creeps take them to court to collect. I seriously question how much of a leg they have to stand on. To whoever's idea this was: do you sleep at night? I think the parents should let the greedy creeps take them to court to collect. I seriously question how much of a leg they have to stand on. To whoever’s idea this was: do you sleep at night?

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/04/26/landlord-harasses-mu.html#comment-475448 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-475448 Tell CCRT Properties what you think about this. Tell CCRT Properties what you think about this.

]]> By: GuidoDavid http://boingboing.net/2009/04/26/landlord-harasses-mu.html#comment-475449 GuidoDavid Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-475449 Don't forget the top hat. Don’t forget the top hat.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/04/26/landlord-harasses-mu.html#comment-475450 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-475450 I am not surprised, considering the management companies I have had to deal with in the past. Real estate management companies are just about as low as it gets without being considered an illegal profession. I am not surprised, considering the management companies I have had to deal with in the past. Real estate management companies are just about as low as it gets without being considered an illegal profession.

]]> By: ZippySpincycle http://boingboing.net/2009/04/26/landlord-harasses-mu.html#comment-475459 ZippySpincycle Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-475459 Utterly moronic insistence on "following procedure" results in evil action. Once the inevitable shitstorm hits them, they will drop the request, probably with a half-assed "apology," and then they'll get back to their regular routine of mindless bureaucracy. See also: virtually every "zero-tolerance" policy in public schools... Utterly moronic insistence on “following procedure” results in evil action. Once the inevitable shitstorm hits them, they will drop the request, probably with a half-assed “apology,” and then they’ll get back to their regular routine of mindless bureaucracy.

See also: virtually every “zero-tolerance” policy in public schools…

]]> By: Oshkosh John http://boingboing.net/2009/04/26/landlord-harasses-mu.html#comment-475975 Oshkosh John Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-475975 O wad some Power the giftie gie us To see oursels as ithers see us! -- Robert Burns O wad some Power the giftie gie us
To see oursels as ithers see us! — Robert Burns

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/04/26/landlord-harasses-mu.html#comment-475470 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-475470 this is terrible i have to let everyone know about this . this is something that should be public or on the news for all to hear. this is terrible i have to let everyone know about this . this is something that should be public or on the news for all to hear.

]]> By: lecti http://boingboing.net/2009/04/26/landlord-harasses-mu.html#comment-475471 lecti Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-475471 If Martin Walker is convicted of murder, he pays the penalty as well. Bam! Problem solved. If Martin Walker is convicted of murder, he pays the penalty as well. Bam! Problem solved.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/04/26/landlord-harasses-mu.html#comment-475479 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-475479 You can leave a comment on the landlord's online form. You can leave a comment on the landlord’s online form.

]]> By: mrsomuch http://boingboing.net/2009/04/26/landlord-harasses-mu.html#comment-475483 mrsomuch Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-475483 spamming here? good grief. we really are at rock bottom. spamming here? good grief. we really are at rock bottom.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/04/26/landlord-harasses-mu.html#comment-475739 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-475739 If you look really closely at the low-res picture of the letter, the letter is addressed to: The Estate of Colin Byers c/o Danielle Eckert [the mother] --[address was redacted]-- -------------------------- and Robert Macedo [the roommate] --[address was redacted]-- -------------------------- I'm just a law student, buy my impression is that even though the mother doesn't owe anything, Colin Byers's <i>estate</i> still might owe money under the lease, and maybe the roommate owes the money under the lease (though this is not clear without more information). The thing is, even though the mother doesn't owe a penny personally, if she is the <i><b>administrator</b></i> of Colin's estate, she would be the appropriate person to send the letter to, asking her to pay the rent out of the remaining money left in the estate (and not out of her own personal bank accounts). If Colin has $0.00 left in his estate, then the mother as administrator of the estate can just tell the landlord, "sorry buddy, you're out of luck," and i don't think there's anything the landlord can do. From what appears in the picture of the letter on the website, it doesn't look like the letter is asking for the mother to pay any of <i>her own</i> money; if you zoom in on the picture, the letter says: "Mr Macedo as well as the <i>Estate of Mr. Byers</i> are jointly and severally liable for the balance of the rent." That might very well be true. It also doesn't mean that the mother has to pay any of her own money. Bottom line: from what I can tell, this story is something of a tempest in a teapot. If you look really closely at the low-res picture of the letter, the letter is addressed to:

The Estate of Colin Byers
c/o Danielle Eckert [the mother]
–[address was redacted]–
————————–

and

Robert Macedo [the roommate]
–[address was redacted]–
————————–

I’m just a law student, buy my impression is that even though the mother doesn’t owe anything, Colin Byers’s estate still might owe money under the lease, and maybe the roommate owes the money under the lease (though this is not clear without more information).

The thing is, even though the mother doesn’t owe a penny personally, if she is the administrator of Colin’s estate, she would be the appropriate person to send the letter to, asking her to pay the rent out of the remaining money left in the estate (and not out of her own personal bank accounts).

If Colin has $0.00 left in his estate, then the mother as administrator of the estate can just tell the landlord, “sorry buddy, you’re out of luck,” and i don’t think there’s anything the landlord can do.

From what appears in the picture of the letter on the website, it doesn’t look like the letter is asking for the mother to pay any of her own money; if you zoom in on the picture, the letter says: “Mr Macedo as well as the Estate of Mr. Byers are jointly and severally liable for the balance of the rent.” That might very well be true. It also doesn’t mean that the mother has to pay any of her own money.

Bottom line: from what I can tell, this story is something of a tempest in a teapot.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/04/26/landlord-harasses-mu.html#comment-475484 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-475484 It's repugnant in any case, but if she didn't cosign the lease, on what basis do they think that they have any legal case whatsoever? His debts are his debts, not his mothers, or his friends, or his second cousing once removed on his dad's side. It’s repugnant in any case, but if she didn’t cosign the lease, on what basis do they think that they have any legal case whatsoever? His debts are his debts, not his mothers, or his friends, or his second cousing once removed on his dad’s side.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/04/26/landlord-harasses-mu.html#comment-475493 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-475493 As the article states, the property manager dosen't have a leg to stand on. They can only get any fees from the victims estate, and well he diden't have one. So really this whole thing will blow over, and the Management company will get some seriously bad PR, no money from the victim, and a bill from thier lawyers. So ... they loose. As the article states, the property manager dosen’t have a leg to stand on. They can only get any fees from the victims estate, and well he diden’t have one.

So really this whole thing will blow over, and the Management company will get some seriously bad PR, no money from the victim, and a bill from thier lawyers.

So … they loose.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/04/26/landlord-harasses-mu.html#comment-509029 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-509029 I personaly know the greedy people who work at CCRT and they are all uncaring people. They dont care about anyone but themselves and $$$$$$$$ ALL OF THEM !!! They dont care about the people they hire to do work on their buildings or their landlords. They treat everyone like crap and have a huge turnover of managers and tenants. They are super picky on who they rent to even if the tenant has a good job and rental history. They are all about the $$$$$ as you can tell !! I personaly know the greedy people who work at CCRT and they are all uncaring people. They dont care about anyone but themselves and $$$$$$$$
ALL OF THEM !!!
They dont care about the people they hire to do work on their buildings or their landlords. They treat everyone like crap and have a huge turnover of managers and tenants. They are super picky on who they rent to even if the tenant has a good job and rental history. They are all about the $$$$$ as you can tell !!

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/04/26/landlord-harasses-mu.html#comment-475751 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-475751 There is precedent to keep a damage deposit if someone dies in one of your apartments. Multiple cases actually. Doesn't excuse it, and I know it's not exactly the same thing, but sometimes people only see money. There is precedent to keep a damage deposit if someone dies in one of your apartments. Multiple cases actually.

Doesn’t excuse it, and I know it’s not exactly the same thing, but sometimes people only see money.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/04/26/landlord-harasses-mu.html#comment-475496 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-475496 Evil, evil, evil. To have no compassion for the dead son sickens me. Who are these scum-sucking lawyers that advised the company to after the fees? This SOB lawyer needs to be taken out back and taught some manners the old fashioned way, but it'll never happen since Lawyers are cowards. Evil, evil, evil. To have no compassion for the dead son sickens me. Who are these scum-sucking lawyers that advised the company to after the fees? This SOB lawyer needs to be taken out back and taught some manners the old fashioned way, but it’ll never happen since Lawyers are cowards.

]]> By: nanuq http://boingboing.net/2009/04/26/landlord-harasses-mu.html#comment-475498 nanuq Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-475498 Problem solved. Send the spammers the landlord's name. They deserve each other. Problem solved. Send the spammers the landlord’s name. They deserve each other.

]]> By: teb http://boingboing.net/2009/04/26/landlord-harasses-mu.html#comment-475499 teb Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-475499 Stupid spammer can't even link properly. Stupid spammer can’t even link properly.

]]> By: Dapremonster http://boingboing.net/2009/04/26/landlord-harasses-mu.html#comment-475501 Dapremonster Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-475501 Spammers in this thread are such dickheads. Spammers in this thread are such dickheads.

]]> By: cinemajay http://boingboing.net/2009/04/26/landlord-harasses-mu.html#comment-475503 cinemajay Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-475503 @5, Dear God, I hope that's not "procedure"! If that were standard practice anywhere I think we'd hear more about it. It sounds like this guy is just desperate. @5, Dear God, I hope that’s not “procedure”! If that were standard practice anywhere I think we’d hear more about it. It sounds like this guy is just desperate.

]]> By: EH http://boingboing.net/2009/04/26/landlord-harasses-mu.html#comment-475508 EH Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-475508 The solution is simple: call them up, say simply, "Colin Byars," and hang up. Do this several times a day. The solution is simple: call them up, say simply, “Colin Byars,” and hang up. Do this several times a day.

]]> By: Takuan http://boingboing.net/2009/04/26/landlord-harasses-mu.html#comment-475509 Takuan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-475509 no pranks! A letter is one thing, the others are not anything condoned here. no pranks! A letter is one thing, the others are not anything condoned here.

]]> By: Takuan http://boingboing.net/2009/04/26/landlord-harasses-mu.html#comment-475770 Takuan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-475770 why does having class and being a lawyer not seem to be able to occupy the same collapsed phase space? why does having class and being a lawyer not seem to be able to occupy the same collapsed phase space?

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