The management tried to not renew the lease last year because of my epilepsy. My attorney let the know the laws that were being violated. I filed with the Division On Civil Rights, who did nothing to help and did a lame 'investigation'. The fact that the landlord even wrote this down as to why she didn't want to have me as a tenant is nothing but illegal. That the DOCR didn't think any discrimination took place seems lame.
Anyway, I've talked a lot about this over the last year and a half. Recently, I filed with small-claims court. I was glad that it could be heard. It was my thinking that it was just for things like "they damaged my car and I want payment". This, however, was just a money court. So, unlike the DOCR (which I couldn't afford to appeal), I can only get money and nothing that would force them to give me a safer first-floor apartment.
Today was the court case, yet it didn't get far. At first, there was a mediator trying to listen to both sides of the case. I was surprised to hear that it was he who read all my information. I had about 9, double-spaced pages describing everything. I chose to do no mediation because I had no belief that they would agree to anything; we'd already tried it through the DOCR. So, he mentioned that it was $3000 or it goes to court.
When our case was called, the judge said to the management "I see that you're requesting a postponement." The landlord said she was wanting to "bring in a witness". His honor apologized to me because he knew I was hoping to have it heard today but he also said that he wanted more time as well because of all that I wrote. Ultimately, I guess that's good because he's the one that I want to know everything. I'm a bit nervous about this so-called witness. All I can
think of is that it must be one of the landlady's son's who saw me have a seizure (who doesn't know any first aid and did nothing but let a paramedic in). It was mentioned in the landlady's letter that I scared her son (in his 20's) and she was concerned. I imagine that he'd talk about how he saw me sick to my stomach and how he cleaned up after me a bit. Something they all admit in the letter that they aren't qualified to do. Something that she yelled at me before
"why don't you clean up your own vomit?" If I'm unconscious, that's rather tough.
I can't think of who else this witness could be, but I am nervous thinking of most anything. Would it be a policeman who was there or an ambulance driver? My mom and friend think it has to be the son.
I can't even see why any witness of a seizure would really even be relevant. It should all just come down to the basics: "Ma'am, did you write this letter and is this your signature on a document trying to remove Mr. .... from the premises because of his seizure condition?" "Yes." "Judgment for the plaintiff." Sounds simple and I hope that the judge will see how they have no grounds for writing such a statement.
Thanks for reading and for the support anybody has given me over the many months. My mom is pleased that I'm still continuing to try and not let someone walk over me.
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