Girlfriend threatening to sue me…

[Taramere]

2 minutes ago, poppyfields said:

OP, it does not cost "hundreds" to seek legal counsel at least with respect to breaking your lease as @Taramere , who has a law degree, suggested. 

 

It's the years of practice that are useful, more than the degree itself. I know that things work differently from place to place, so it's always difficult to advise - but getting out of the lease agreement early seems like the sort of thing you'd aim for a swift, amicable and pragmatic resolution to with the landlord.  Maybe it's something the OP could even check out himself if he has a friendly enough relationship with the landlord that he can sit down and have a chat with them. 

From a totally non legal perspective, I think usually people appreciate being informed fairly early on when there's a problem that might affect them.  If I were letting out a property I think I'd probably look kindly on a tenant who approached me and said "look - I have this issue, and I need to get out of the lease."  That said...given the nature of the issue I might have a concern along the lines of "if I let this guy get out of the lease early and without much in the way of penalties, that's likely to bring me into conflict with Ms Litigious."

It's a hard one.  To me, the priority here would be for the OP to stop living with this woman - even if that means sleeping on a friend's couch while still paying rent on the property, so that he can afford to give proper notice to terminate the lease.  It just seems way too risky to carry on living with somebody like that, who's looking to play victim at somebody else's considerable expense.  It would be a constant nightmare of "what's she going to say/do next?"  

I remember years ago, I had a landlady who was crazy to the point where my colleagues referred to her as Single White Female.  It was scary.  When I left, I handed her a cheque for £100 and told her "I've already paid you everything I owe. This is an extra.  The condition of you cashing it is that I never hear from you again."  Although she complained and ranted, she loved money too much to resist taking it.  Sometimes you do just reach the point where you decide "this person is so damn toxic and dangerous that galling as it is, I'm willing to pay them to go away."

[Wiseman2]

On 10/9/2021 at 5:51 PM, Jarlstown said:

She basically says I ruined her nose and demands that I give her about $20k so she can go see a fancy plastic surgeon in California. She told me she would sue me for the money and would do whatever it takes to win including making things up and ruining my character.

 Where you are extortion is a criminal offense. ( google it).

So tell the police that she threatened you in exchange for money.

Get a restraining order against her so she, de facto, has to move out. 

You don't need an attorney, a prosecutor will handle  her. However you need evidence of this conversation, such as a recording. 

She's the criminal not you. Be crystal clear on that.

Edited October 12, 2021 by Wiseman2

[Lisa]

@Jarlstown we've closed the thread pending your return as it's continuing without you.  Please flag this post when you wish to respond and we'll open the thread back up.