Ex-husband told to pay slain woman’s rent

[meegbear]

Source: chron.com

The ex-husband of one of the nine people killed at a Christmas Eve party has been asked by a landlord to pay the dead woman’s rent.

Broadcrest Foothill Apartment Homes claims Alicia Ortiz broke her lease and gave "insufficient notice to vacate." Ortiz and her 17-year-old son were killed by her sister’s disgruntled ex-husband.

The landlord of her Upland apartment informed her former husband, Carlos Ortiz, that he owes $2,821 in rent and penalties.

Says Carlos Ortiz, "I just don’t understand it." The manager of the property, Candyse Wardlow, refused to comment. Messages left at the company’s office were not returned. Alicia Ortiz, her son Michael and seven others were killed Dec. 24 by a gunman dressed as Santa Claus. He then burned the house and killed himself.

Read more: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/nation/6247526.html

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Incredible.

[ixion]

1. I would tell the landlord to piss off

and file a harassment counter-suit if it continues.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

2. If his name's on the lease, there's no question.

Otherwise, the landlord has absolutely no case. It'd be like suing Skinner if I didn't pay my credit card bills.

On edit: I take it back - the landlord shouldn't have a case anyway.

[hobbit709]

3. I'd tell the landlord to take that bill

fold it it until it is all sharp corners and he knows where to put it.
Talk about gall.

[Mudoria]

4. One good way to look at this

the negative PR on this will be so bad that they will drop this idiotic idea. I'm guessing the manager will be joining the rest of on the unemployment line since someone will have to be made the sacrificial lamb to save face at the companies HQ.

[mac56]

5. As my grandma used to say:

there's a hot spot in Hell for people like this.

[wroberts189]

6. Some people ..so greedy and insensitive it boggles the mind. nt

[treestar]

7. Some idiot in the landlord's office found this to be "logical"

Or did not realize that the woman had died.

And believes ex-spouses are liable for all bills. Well, someone must be, right? :rofl:

[Baby Snooks]

10. Welcome to America...

He may be the executor of the estate so they sent him a form in order to file when he files for probate. Quite a few apartment owners do that if the lease allows them to. And of course they get their money.

Some also just lien the contents until someone pays the rent if the lease allows them to do that. The family pays because the contents are usually worth more than what's owed. If you live in states like Texas, tenants have few rights despite the law telling them they do. The courts ignore the law and side with the landlord. You are faced with an expensive appeal process and most just give up. Particularly in probate court. In wrongful evictions in Texas, the judges issue a writ and tell the tenant to sue the landlord. Seriously.

Welcome to America. Where laws are written by attorneys for attorneys to get rich off of.

[Still Sensible]

8. Unfreakingbelievable the gall of some people

And if this guy's name is not on the lease... Fuck'em fully because he would have no obligation for that debt. On the other hand when the deceased's estate goes through probate, there is a possible claim against that for something, but if the landlord can enforce an "insufficient notice" clause in this circumstance I'd be surprised.

[ejpoeta]

9. really!! the woman, obviously, should have been able to tell

the landlord she would be murdered well in advance so he could plan accordingly!!! i mean, what is wrong with people these days. not giving proper notice and such.

fyi.... SARCASM!!

[Bombero1956]

11. if I were the ex-husband

I would call all the media outlets and have them camp outside the management offices. I would really like to see them defend such a ridiculous idea.

[Tempest]

12. Is the house uninhabitable?

It was burned down by the ex-husband.

If the house can't be lived in, the landlord hasn't got a chance of collecting.


Not to mention the sheer insensitivity of billing the woman's husband.

[FedUpWithIt All]

13. ...

:puke: