I rented a property last January. I took up residence at the end of March due to the weather and personal reasons. However, I paid all the rent for January (first month) February/March/April even though I moved in March. I also paid up front for the last month and a security deposit, PLUS fuel costs up front – propane and oil tanks filled - $1500. I also paid a pet deposit and extra Money every month for pets. All in about $6k with movers, etc.

Within 3 weeks of living there I had to get a Protective Order at the District Court (temporary at first and then granted a 30 day order in court with the landlord present). The order was necessary due to excessive contact by the landlord, phone calls (cell and work), stop by’s, inappropriate emails, entering the property when I was not home, taking my dog out, scaring my dog walker, lurking around every time I came and went, standing in my driveway when I got home from work, knocking and walking right in, banging on my door after I made it clear I was napping/unavailable, phone calls stating “I know you’re home, I can see your car”, making inappropriate advances including touching. The property is laid out so that I rented a small cottage on the property which he owns and also lives in a separate house. There is only one way in and one way out, you have to pass his residence to get to the cottage and the cottage is visible from his house. I found out from the police (where I went before the courthouse) that they apparently are very familiar with this man and have either received other complaints from previous tenants or been investigating him for other reasons. I have since found out that the past two female tenants fled, leaving their furniture and belongings behind, because of his intrusiveness and inappropriate advances.

After receiving the protective order, I gave 30 days notice (per the lease) and left. Since then he is refusing to refund me ANYTHING. I have not received one dime from him since last spring. I took him to Small Claims court and I won on all counts – approx. $5000. He filed an appeal and now I have to attend a jury trial in March. During the small claims trial, he was able to approach me, hand me items, forced me to read things out loud, questioned me for 2.5 hours, asking all sorts of unrelated questions about many things including my mental health. He has lied about many things and the Magistrate stated that he had “pierced the corporate veil” of the landlord, among other comments. I feel that I will win this jury trial, but I am petrified of him being able to approach me and question me again. It is not fair that the person I fear the most is able to question me directly, and stand over my shoulder while I’m forced to read things that have no bearing on the case.

This person is a supposed Harvard Law School graduate, many many years ago (he is now in his 70’s) and fancies himself a lawyer even though he was never practicing. The last meeting with the Magistrate was awful and exhausting. The many times we have been to the courthouse, he has approached me in the hall, tried to hand me paperwork, and tried to ride the elevator with me. It is very very disturbing and uncomfortable.