Hello,
I planned on terminating my tenancy in a house shared with my landlord. I had paid first and last months rent as she requested when moving in, and then paid no more when the 2nd month came, making that the final month.
I was illegally evicted because she changed the lock in the middle of the final month. She gave me a rent refund but deducted for the lock and dry cleaning a bed spread.
I plan to file in small claims, can I seek triple damages according to the RPAPL? The most insulting thing to me is charging me for the lock. Can I include a full 1/2 months rent as damage, not just the deductions (lock+bed spread)? Can I also include the small claims filing fee? So can I claim damage for 1.5 months rent + 3 times the filing fee? Does it matter, can I just ask for this in damages and the judge will reduce it if I can't seek these damage amounts?
Thanks