This is another conversation that took place in a courtroom hallway.  Judges will often send the parties out into the hallway to try to hammer out a settlement and avoid taking up time in court.  Sometimes it works…sometimes it doesn’t.

In this situation, the tenant had quit paying his rent (along with all of his other bills) with the plan that he could just file bankruptcy later and get out of it.  That didn’t work out as planned since the bankruptcy court wasn’t quite as stupid as he thought. He was evicted and we ended up in court over the unpaid rents.

His attorney and my attorney tried to work out a settlement outside the courtroom but the tenant refused to participate.

Tenant (interrupting the discussion to point a finger at me):  You know, you really should be nicer to me about all of this.  You should be thanking me!

Me:  I should?

Tenant:  Ohhh yeah!  You wouldn’t have a job if it wasn’t for me!  (Said while doing the double gun point fingers at me and then giving himself the “this guy” thumbs.)

Me:  Well, um…that’s not really true.

Tenant:  Oh yes it is!  My rent pays your salary!

Me:  Thankfully, that isn’t true.  After all, we’re here today because you haven’t paid the rent.

Tenant:  That’s just your opinion!

Me:  No.  No it isn’t.  We are all here right now talking about the rent you didn’t pay.

Tenant:  HA!  You just proved my point!  You wouldn’t have a job without me!  You should be thanking me!   (He was nearly dancing from foot to foot in his excitement at this point.)

His attorney:  Can we just get back to the settlement discussion?

Tenant:  Not until she says thank you!  (We all just stood there for a bit in silence and I finally gave in).

Me: Okay then.  Thank you.    Now can we move on?

Tenant:  Not until you say it like you mean it!

We wrapped up the settlment discussion and moved back into the courtroom.  We won the judgement plus legal fees and I gave him a sincere thank you and good bye when it was over. I really, really meant it!