Man Gets Sued For Maliciously Complying With Court’s Decision, Wins The Case And Exposes Landlord

German psychoanalyst Erich Fromm once described greed as a “bottomless pit.” According to him, it’s a trait that “exhausts the person in an endless effort to satisfy the need without ever reaching satisfaction.”

Such a statement couldn’t be more applicable to this story, where a landlord wanted an easy big payday at the expense of his tenant. He began overcharging and unjustly evicting the man who lived in his father’s home for nearly two decades.

The landlord eventually got his much-deserved karma thanks to the tenant’s act of malicious compliance.

Having a greedy landlord can be a headache to deal with

Man fixing kitchen cabinet with a screwdriver, illustrating legal dispute between tenant and landlord in a home setting.

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A longtime tenant had to endure a significant rent increase and an unjust eviction, prompting him to take action through malicious compliance

Text excerpt showing a personal story about a landlord, house upgrades, and complying with court decisions.

Text excerpt about landlord’s inspection, rent increase to 4000 dollars, and tenant’s response to malicious compliance.

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Text excerpt discussing eviction notice and landlord accusing tenant of unauthorized modifications including a dog door installation.

Text describing a court decision on tenant eviction and restoration of property modifications, exposing landlord issues.

Alt text: Man maliciously complying with court’s decision by removing upgrades and exposing landlord issues before moving out

Text describing a legal dispute where a man wins a case after maliciously complying with a court order against his landlord.

Lawyer explaining court decision documents to clients in an office setting, highlighting landlord-related case details.

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Ultimately, the landlord lost more money and ruined his sibling relationships

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Text excerpt explaining landlord’s deceptive rent increase and house sale despite its high value and paid-off status.

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Text excerpt showing a man’s case outcome involving malicious compliance and exposing landlord fraud through a court decision.

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The man clarified some parts of his story

Text excerpt explaining timeline after landlord's death, related to court case and landlord issues.

Q and A text about renting a house for 17 years explaining choice during divorce and proximity to schools

Text excerpt from a legal case about a man maliciously complying with a court decision and exposing landlord wrongdoing.

Text excerpt about upgrades made in a rental home with landlord permission, relating to court decision compliance.

Text explaining a judge's 30-day move out order during eviction, highlighting the timed legal process involved.

Man fixing wall with screwdriver, illustrating compliance and landlord dispute in a home maintenance setting.

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Text excerpt explaining how a man quickly removed a small pond and shed while complying with court decisions against landlord.

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Text excerpt discussing negative equity in a house, reverse mortgage, and predatory lending affecting estate settlement.

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Greedy people with loaded bank accounts are typically unsatisfied with their lives

Some people may argue that greed isn’t all bad. They are the ones who believe that having an excessive desire can lead to an affluent life. But according to recent research, that’s as far as the benefits go.

In 2022, Tilburg University lecturer Karlijn Hoyer conducted a study involving 2,367 Dutch individuals aged between 16 and 95. The goal was to assess life outcomes associated with greed.

Findings revealed that while higher levels of greed were associated with a higher household income, they were also linked to a lower number of biological children and shorter romantic relationships.

In an interview with PsyPost, Hoyer explained how people driven by greed may live miserable lives. She stated that they typically push their partners to work harder and earn more, which often leads to ruined relationships.

“Being greedy and being self-interested makes you unhappy in your own way,” Hoyer noted.

The landlord’s son in the story appeared to have it worse, and it’s all thanks to his greed. Not only did he lose a significant amount of money, but he also ruined his relationship with his siblings.

But is malicious compliance a reasonable response to such greedy practices? Not always. If a landlord unjustly threatens eviction, experts advise hiring a lawyer to protect your rights. You also don’t have to worry about losing a place to stay because the eviction won’t move forward until the court hears the case.

The author’s malicious compliance was his harmless yet assertive way of expressing his displeasure about the eviction. Fortunately for him, the landlord’s shady and greedy practices were eventually revealed.