30 April, 2008 | Leave a Comment
My court case is officially over — finally! The Paris Bar wired the money into my bank account, representing 100% of the judgment awarded to me by the court in February. This includes the original deposit, plus damages and legal fees. The last piece of the puzzle was getting the evil landlady to officially give up her right to appeal in writing, which I’m pleased to say she did this week. So that’s it. Case closed.
I didn’t think it would end this way. I thought there’d be more drama. At first she threatened to appeal the verdict and then attempted to essentially blackmail me into accepting a lesser amount. I thought I was in for another long fight, with more stress and even more money spent. But for reasons I’ll never understand, the landlady suddenly gave up and paid me everything. It’s a real mystery. Now this whole ugly business is finished. At last.
I know these types of situations don’t always have a happy ending. You can fight, you can stand up for yourself — and you can still lose. I was lucky that the judge was willing and able to see through the lies and acknowledge the injustice I suffered. I also had to work really, really hard to get this ending. Suing someone in a foreign country where you don’t speak the language very well is extremely difficult. I first had to go to the American embassy in Paris to get a list of lawyers, most of whom turned me down and insinuated that getting ripped off in Paris is the norm and that I should just suck it up. Finally I found someone to take my case. I had to work with her for months, telling her the whole gruesome story of my time in Paris, writing it all down, providing evidence to back up what I was saying. Then I had to contact numerous people to get written affidavits, got into arguments with the owner of the apartment rental agency on more than one occasion and had to repeatedly throw myself on the mercy of several French people I knew, basically humiliating myself by begging them to help me. Almost every trip I’ve taken to Paris over the past six months has involved doing something in regards to this case, such as going to the bailiff’s office to pay him for the delivery of summons, etc. For a while this was practically like a part-time job.
In the end it’s all been worth it, but it was a wrenching ordeal from start to finish. I chose to fight this not so much for the money (though that was important) but for the principle. The destructive impact of this woman’s actions on my life can never be made right by any court of law, but the court case and my ultimate victory give me a some sense of justice. I’m so glad it’s over now. I have to thank my friends and family, particularly my parents, for all the help they gave me during this nightmare.
I’ve profited by about £1000/$2000, after subtracting the money for the deposit and lawyer’s fees. I could have very easily ended up with nothing extra, so I’m pleased. However, I’m even more pleased that the landlady ended up have to spend an extra £1800/$3600 above and beyond what she originally owed me. That’s the best part. We often say, “What goes around comes around.” It’s not often that you get to see it come around.
Anglofille said @ 9:40 am | paris life |
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Cav Says:
April 30th, 2008 at 1:25 pmCongratulations!
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oh wow, congratulations - it has to be a such a huge relief that it’s really finally over!
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Congratulations!! I think you should celebrate with some nice champagne. Cheers to you!!
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s. Says:
May 1st, 2008 at 12:45 amGreat news!
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Gregory Says:
May 1st, 2008 at 3:24 amIf they ever try to jam you up in Kentucky for Moonpie smuggling or something,
you’ll be able to get movie rights in advance,
Sheriff Teasle will have met his match, or one of dose Sheriffs, they’re all called Teasle, or Bob or something.
So, the USA is straight with France now, they did Yorktown and the Battle of the Virginia Capes, Yanks do June 6th 1944, Normandy,
and you clinch it with a major legal victory proving injustice survived the revolution (and Zola).
On behalf of the legless frogs association, I salute you.
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Thanks so much everyone!
