ChatGPT helped me sue my landlord without needing legal representation!

General Forum Discussions
1

I know many of you might think this is risky and not a substitute for a lawyer, but please hear me out.

My former landlord fraudulently deducted over $600 from our deposit when I moved out. I wanted to fight for it back, but I had very little evidence—no detailed pictures from before I moved in, etc. I knew it would be an uphill battle.

I shared my lease agreement with ChatGPT and asked if there was anything I could use to help my case. It quickly identified that my landlord had violated a specific law passed in 2019 in my area, which prohibits charging more than one month’s rent as a deposit. It cited the exact legal text and linked me to a reliable source confirming its validity. I learned that I was entitled to not only the return of my full deposit but also up to twice that amount in punitive damages. Since the landlord has already admitted in writing to breaking the law but still refuses to return my deposit, I’m confident that the judge will rule in my favor. I initially only wanted the $600 back, but now I stand to gain $4,000 from this small claims lawsuit.

ChatGPT has also been invaluable in helping me understand court procedures, prepare and organize my case, and protect myself against a retaliatory and baseless $5,000 counterclaim the landlord filed against me.

In short—best $20 I’ve ever spent.

Since people keep asking, here’s what ChatGPT directed me to:

New York Senate Bill

“No deposit or advance shall exceed the amount of one month’s rent.”

“Any person who violates the provisions of this subdivision shall be liable for actual damages; a person found to have willfully violated this subdivision shall be liable for punitive damages of up to twice the amount of the deposit or advance.”

The initial hearing is tomorrow, but I suspect it will be adjourned. I’ll update as soon as I can.

2

An excellent example of effectively using ChatGPT while having the wisdom to verify its statements. Keep up the great work!

3

First off, great job!

Do yourself a favor and have ChatGPT help you identify any possible arguments the landlord might use, and then come up with counterarguments to nullify them.

Print these out and take them with you, but also make sure you know the arguments well enough to spot the right moments to use them.

Preparation builds confidence, and confidence comes from knowing you’re in the right.

4

That’s exactly what I’ve been doing! I’ve been dedicating about an hour every day to this for the past two months. His counterclaim includes duplicative damages that were already deducted from my deposit, as well as “late fees” that were never mentioned until after I initiated legal action. It’s clearly a retaliatory tactic.

5

ChatGPT also helped me win a small claims case a couple of weeks ago regarding a contract dispute.

While I wouldn’t rely on it for larger or more serious claims, it’s incredibly useful for smaller cases where the cost of hiring a lawyer exceeds the amount owed.

Always remember to ask for a source for each piece of legislation it references so you can double-check the information.

6

As someone who successfully sued my landlord without a lawyer and won back my deposit along with an additional settlement, I just want to say well done! It’s absolutely possible to do it yourself, although it’s not easy. Best of luck to you!