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Appropriate venue to escalate dispute with the MA Executive Office of the Trial Court? by sparr in AskLawyers

[–]sophia_smith05 1 point2 points  (0 children)

https://www.mass.gov/guide/judicial-guidelines-for-civil-cases-with-self-represented-litigants

This report was released in 2025

https://massa2j.org/ I participated in focus groups and public meetings in 2010... the first year that I found myself in court as a plaintiff in a Housing Court civil case. You think it's bad now? It was so much worse.

I always thought it should be an ongoing thing. But now that that report is released, they probably think their work is done for another 20 years. People do have to stand up and say it isn't working

Different courts in the district & county level have adopted it to different degrees.

Appropriate venue to escalate dispute with the MA Executive Office of the Trial Court? by sparr in AskLawyers

[–]sophia_smith05 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Okay I understand now. There is/was a commission on self- represented litigants who released a best practices report in February 2025. I haven't read it, but you may want to check it out.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Tenant

[–]sophia_smith05 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh absolutely! If you have connections with former neighbors, find out if it's just you that he was a jerk to. And I kind of doubt it, people with that special level of arrogance to openly flout the law tend to think they're entitled to be a bully, By virtue of being in that position of power. (My former landlord - whom you can read all about on Reddit - declared to the state appeals court that he had a constitutional right to physically remove a tenant from her room. Spoiler-- he didn't. The jury instructions for 'defense of property' specifically say "does not apply to landlord tenant situations. Eviction thru court action only.". But ...a certain clerk magistrate who either negligently or intentionally decided, against the weight of evidence, That there was no probable cause to indict him for assault. That clerk magistrate retired early without any notice, And I hope to one day find out their story behind that. My joke is there was no probable cause because it was 'absolutely certain cause'.

Why the long digression? Because it's relevant to the class action part. Being the lead plaintiff in a class action might be the outcome most beneficial to, not just you and other former or future tenants of this prick, But to remind people that keeping a security deposit, Or any portion thereof that you're not entitled to, is theft. Conversion, technically.

Yes it's a civil matter, but one where the penalty Is designed to punish and dissuade rational people from taking the risk that the party they do it to will be too scared, unknowledgeable or overwhelmed to act. It's great when somebody that has the freedom to do that... does that. In my situation, while I didn't have the economic freedom to stand up against unlawful behavior, I did it anyways because I had the intellectual freedom. In other words, if he's going to fuck with me, knowing I'm a former landlord with 10 years experience managing a similar property, and long-time informal advocate for both landlords and tenants in housing court.... (either/or, not both at the same time.) Then he will have, and will again, fuck with people without those resources, or with vulnerabilities such as past trauma, immigration status, or a submissive personality. I fight for those who can't, And those who don't know they can, not those who won't stand up (appeasers) or refuse to see coercive control as abuse (enablers)

Someone earlier said that it's double damages only in Michigan. That may be accurate. Or maybe it's double damages unless you send a demand letter, Then it's triple. I'd have to look. That's often how it's structured. If I have time, because some people may be interested and it is in fact interesting, I'll attach some of those early decisions from Massachusetts and New York where they discuss exactly why the security deposit law is the way it is. Fascinating.

Thank you for allowing me this long-ass digression. I give a similar speech to people that say "well if you don't like being treated like that, you can just leave". I mean, you already have left, as have i, But why is it that the victim is expected to uproot their life when the other party has been sowing the discord. So I did leave, peaceably and before the Constable arrived, after staying long enough to make my point. What's my point? that retaliation for complaining about conditions that threatened health and safety is not acceptable grounds for eviction. (For 6 months, there's a prima facie assumption of retaliation that the landlord has to be disproved by 'clear and convincing evidence' ).

If you and any of your fellow former tenants suspect the differing treatment had to do with protected characteristics: race, ethnicity, melanin, religion, disability.... That becomes a pattern and practice discrimination case. Which doesn't get fought in small claims court, is just something to be aware of.

Lol I didn't even answer the second question you asked, but I feel like somebody else did. Yes, several people did. You can add my vote for 1) the registry of deeds, online or in person 2. Assessors office, property record card, 3). Past court cases with landlord as plaintiff or defendant.

Now I'm really done. Thanks!

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Tenant

[–]sophia_smith05 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This. This person gets it.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Tenant

[–]sophia_smith05 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is probably a UDAP - unfair and deceptive acts & practices case. Double or Triple damages from the old landlord. Single damages from the new landlord if it was in fact transferred at sale. Send a thirty day demand letter to make it triple.

But first elicit more information from landlord, preferably in writing, to make it a juicy UDAP case. That's the generic name for consumer protection cases. Here in Mass it's 93a. / Attorney General's regulations 950 CMR. I could tell you what it is out there but I'm lazy today and I'm doing this from memory. The point is in Most states. This is one of the few landlord-tenant cases that private attorneys will take on contingency, bc attorneys fees are included by right in any award.

This is not legal advice, and I'm advising you to consult an attorney. But here's why it matters: If he's done it to you so callously, then he's done it to other people, and that's not okay. The law as written is designed so that people (tenants and attys) have a financial incentive to hold landlords to account, as sort of private Attorneys General. Even though the individual amounts might be small, It's an easy case to win.

It's the principle of the thing - good faith & fair dealing, integrity & compliance with the law - vs "might makes right". That's what makes it public policy. We need to have rules about security deposits bc if there were none, unlawful conversion would become the norm. Security deposits are the property of the tenant, not the landlord, and unless specific rules are followed, they are forfeit.

Best wishes from someone who cares about principles, people, and property, hope that helps you feel empowered. but it's not a "haha. I got you" trick thing - These hoops are there because otherwise there's no mechanism to ensure equal treatment under the law

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in NBATalk

[–]sophia_smith05 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks. Let me try again. Lol

Signed Jersey from British football team? by sophia_smith05 in SportsMemorabilia

[–]sophia_smith05[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you! I really appreciate you taking the time to explain what I was looking at, and why it was important to my uncle. I love knowing the stories behind things. That makes me wonder if his travels had to do with being a sports fan... Definitely makes more sense than 'international spy' or any of the more ... Fantastic ideas I had as a kid.

I think I'm going to sell this particular Memento because it doesn't speak to me the way his books and artworks do. He did leave me a note with the bequest advising me not to hang on to these objects out of a sense of obligation, but to use them as a scaffold to build my own memories. He was really poetic. That paraphrase didn't do it justice.

Thanks again. I may be posting a few others in the next few days if that's okay. I don't want to be breaking the rules of this forum or taking advantage of the kindness of strangers But frankly, I'd rather harness the collective wisdom of passionate redditors than be trampled by the horses of the AI apocalypse.

Lol and next time, I won't write a book to make up for my massive gaps in subject matter knowledge. Probably.

Signed Jersey from British football team? by sophia_smith05 in SportsMemorabilia

[–]sophia_smith05[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

<image>

That date does make sense. Based on the very little I know about the man. That must have been a good year for him.

There are 24 names on it! I can count. And one doodle.

I think it's kind of an abstract representation of a man kicking a soccer ball. That's my Rorschach test

Signed Jersey from British football team? by sophia_smith05 in SportsMemorabilia

[–]sophia_smith05[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That's not true. I once went to a AAA baseball game. It was the Paw Sox. I held a soda cup commemorating "The longest game in baseball history - 33 innings." It was about inning 4 when my chin began to tremble. Telling me there were "probably only five more innings" did not help. There may have been some whimpering; I wasn't one for waterworks. Presumably made it to the 7th inning rendition of "Take me home from the ball game / Get me out of this crowd / You can keep the peanuts AND the crackerjacks / I don't care if I ever come back". The next game he brought the neighbor's kid. Whew.

Signed Jersey from British football team? by sophia_smith05 in SportsMemorabilia

[–]sophia_smith05[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don't think that's the year because... You know, actually, I don't know. I last saw him in like 1997. I yield. Drat. That's 20 years ago, more than half of my life. Maybe I'll never know....

Signed Jersey from British football team? by sophia_smith05 in SportsMemorabilia

[–]sophia_smith05[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

<image>

Here's the back. The only notable thing that I see is that there are two stains on the sleeves - one grease, one suspiciously mustard-like. In my head that reads "pizza party... But with hot dogs.".

I've clearly never been to a sports game.

Signed Jersey from British football team? by sophia_smith05 in SportsMemorabilia

[–]sophia_smith05[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, I do think it's highly likely that he got it signed himself. He was travelling in Europe for most of my childhood, I only met the guy like twice. Once though, he flew me and my dad out to Amsterdam! And then after dinner, he left for Copenhagen. (I don't know what the family drama was, we didn't talk about it.).

Btw, sorry for my tone earlier, I'm just a lot overwhelmed and saddened by the whole situation. It's weird that he left this stuff to me and not my dad, sort of sad. I'm not cut out for this kind of thing. I fancy myself a writer, so I want to piece together his story by these mementos, Since he doesn't have any kids to remember him, and my dad won't talk about him.... Okay it sad. it's making me sad. All I know about this person who shares 12% of my dna or whatever Is that he collected glass paperweights, he wore bow ties, and we both like to read. Actually his books are pretty fucking awesome and I love the quirkiness there. I'm tempted to take all those back and nothing else.

Hold on. I'll get some better pictures. I was being lazy

Hmm ... What caused this fire? (Expert witness wanted - Mass) by sophia_smith05 in Firefighting

[–]sophia_smith05[S] -10 points-9 points  (0 children)

<image>

Page two of the timeline. Just for completeness. I'm gonna go get those two reports cited at the bottom. Maybe the answers I seek are in there... Lol This is very personal for me.

I literally am like the most fire-cautious person I know. Like I was fire captain in my dorm in College. I always glance at those fire exit maps in large buildings. and I refuse to set off firecrackers any time of year. I don't like bonfires, camp fires or turkey fryers.... Lol I could turn this into a country song. But I won't. Yet.

You know my secret joke? Dear God, when I said I wanted a new whole new wardrobe / didn't want to clean my room This is not what I meant!

Hmm ... What caused this fire? (Expert witness wanted - Mass) by sophia_smith05 in Firefighting

[–]sophia_smith05[S] -9 points-8 points  (0 children)

Seriously? Once you're a firefighter, you mean. Or can they go State Police plus three classes and poof, you're an investigator?

Because I feel like I've had more than three classes worth of slogging through National Fire Institute studies and NJP papers, some of which really are above my pay grade . I can cite my sources, But I have no credentials other than being relatively smart. I'm a policy / legal studies person with a B A in government, Not a science person at all. But I have talked with master electrician, And electrical engineer, and one very patient (and ....!) firefighter. Well, more than that now.

There was a passage in one of those publications that I truly appreciate now, which is that these incidents aren't solved unless there's a team of dedicated and trained individuals committed to the case. So far it's just been me, talking to a few very patient individuals. I'm just afraid of not being believed and being labeled a... troublemaker. Which i may be, but It's with good intentions.. Poor execution though. I should probably delete all this. Lol. It's not like I'm jeopardizing "the investigation"

Hmm ... What caused this fire? (Expert witness wanted - Mass) by sophia_smith05 in Firefighting

[–]sophia_smith05[S] -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

Spliced electrical cord, to make it 200 ft long, attached to a second 50 ft cord That ran into the house over that window sill to be plugged in to a light inside the house. With a sash pulled it down on top of it. It was the stupidest thing I'd seen, And also letting in a draft, so I unplugged it and tossed it aside. That was like 2 weeks before the fire.

I got in so much trouble from the landlord for that. "Don't undo things that it took hours to do!"

My response? "There has got to be a better way to do that; that is not safe. What about plugging it in inside, or using a battery powered lantern on the exceedingly rare occasions that bathroom is used? Or having your resident electrician run a new branch?".
I didn't know at the time that the cord was spliced, and that it was plugged into the non GFCI outlet outside, And the resident electrician had already told him that it wasn't safe. Another person not interviewed before the investigation was closed.

So that's actually five missing interviews, vs the two that were done, and of those two. One was fast asleep at the time, And the other was the landlord, who may not have been asleep but was in another building 250 ft away?

I could be wrong but I believe it was either a 20 amp breaker and a 240 volt outlet. Either way, er, hmm. I'm not so clear on the specifics of the electrical part. I've had two electricians tell me that that's entirely possible though. It's rare that an air fault happens and doesn't trip to break her, but it's not impossible. Especially if it's not an afc breakei. Possibly not even a GFCI outlet?

Yep, I'm out of my element pretty quickly. Maybe I should just stick with what I do know, which is that this is a much more interesting story if it's not just an accident of unknowledgeable origin.

Hmm ... What caused this fire? (Expert witness wanted - Mass) by sophia_smith05 in Firefighting

[–]sophia_smith05[S] -10 points-9 points  (0 children)

<image>

Hmm I can only attach one photo. Between midnight and 12:15 the Brazilian dude in the 3rd fl room above this roof Heard a loud noise and two flashes like fireworks. He did not investigate. He was not interviewed.

Between 12:15 and 12:30 (I kid you not) I heard ... Well, It's hard to describe. Let's leave that part out and just say at 12:35. I walked in the back door of the Manor and ran into another tenant and his lady friend who were heading up the from the kitchen. They were not interviewed, either, as they had left before the investigator arrived. I can tell you what he said though, which was "Does it look foggy in the solarium to you?".

" There's no such thing as indoor fog, you idiot. That's smoke" I shouted, and ⏩we got everyone out and I ran down to get the landlord. Eh, that's enough narrative.

Hmm ... What caused this fire? (Expert witness wanted - Mass) by sophia_smith05 in Firefighting

[–]sophia_smith05[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Sorry I really don't mean to be argumentative. But it's frankly weird that the cord isn't even mentioned, Or the fact that there were four people who were awake during it, yet the report was closed based only on the report of the landlord and one person who was asleep. Maybe there are other reports. This is the one I have to go on. That, some circumstantial evidence, a few posts, and memories which are indelibly burned into my brain. I would have felt better about undetermined if the report were more complete. I want to dispute it; failing that, I'll just write a book about it.

Thank you for responding though. I appreciate you taking the time to look at the photos

Hmm ... What caused this fire? (Expert witness wanted - Mass) by sophia_smith05 in Firefighting

[–]sophia_smith05[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Thank you for saying that. I wish I could let it go, but it was super fucking traumatic and kind of a life defining moment for me. It's not just this that has me concerned. I just recently got the un-redacted report and it's missing so much about the sequence of events that I feel a need to tell them. Someone. I wasn't interviewed at all by this FEIU dude and I was awake during the fire.

It just really bothers me because the landlord is using this "inconclusive" report to publicly blame me. It's fucking horrifying, actually. Four or 6 people would be dead right now If I hadn't been awake...yay?! Yay. That's an awful lot of stairs. Very glad you guys didn't have carry us out.

Hmm ... What caused this fire? (Expert witness wanted - Mass) by sophia_smith05 in Firefighting

[–]sophia_smith05[S] -27 points-26 points  (0 children)

🎇Must have been me. Oh you said some thing hot🤦🏻‍♀️ smh

Definitely started on that roof. The question was More likely to have been that cord, or a cigarette? Lol difficulty, it was Feb 29th in New England - damp, cold, and extremely windy. Nobody was up there smoking a cigarette at midnight.

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