An Ol' Broad's Ramblings
Company Demands Rent from Murder Victim
I originally posted this over at Silent E Speaks this morning. I usually keep the local stuff over there, but this so bothered me I wanted as many people as possible to know about it. It is about the most aggregious lack of human decency I’ve seen in quite some time….
When I first heard about this story, I thought there was some mix-up in paperwork, but sadly, that is not the case.
Danielle Eckert’s son Colin Byars was murdered in February. Now the property manager at his old apartment is demanding rent for March and April….saying Colin didn’t give 30 days notice that he would be leaving.
Danielle can’t believe it.
“I said, ‘How is he supposed to send a 30 days notice, when he didn’t even know he was going to get killed?’ “ said Danielle.
The letter from CCRT Properties is addressed to the estate of Colin Byars, and his roommate Robert Macedo. Property manager Debbie Marko wants two months rent, late fees, and an extra $660.00 for early termination of the lease — a grand total of $2060.00.
But Macedo says the lease actually clears them of any fees: “It was in writing that if Colin should leave, I would have to leave as well.”
But CCRT Properties is insisting on the money and told Danielle they’ve already contacted their corporate attorney.
The company had no comment.
It’s all left Colin Byars family frustrated. “The money is not as big a deal,” said Danielle. “It’s the principal.”
Unbelievable!! It’s bad enough that they’re trying to collect the rent, but early termination fee for not giving a 30 day notice?? Whiskey. Tango. Foxtrot. (Sorry for stealing that Chad, but it’s so appropriate) I don’t know of many murder victims who, thirty days prior to their murder, are aware of the fact that they will be assuming room temperature.
Aside from the fact that this is positively amoral, legally, there may not be much that the company can do. Sure, they can try to sue his estate, but as a young school teacher, I doubt he has much of an estate. In addition, in many cases once a party to a contract dies, the contract becomes null and void.
All that aside, what the hell is wrong with people? I understand that we are in a bad economy, but did this company not realize the horrendous publicity it would receive? I would be quite surprised if they didn’t reverse themselves, but the damage is done. Good grief!
You just can’t make this stuff up.
The family should sue the people trying to grab rent. After all…..their son couldn’t give an “early termination notice” because he was, well, terminated early ON THEIR PROPERTY.
Turn about is fair play as the old saying goes……
And perhaps this company needs to get lots and lots of calls and emails from all of us.
Actually, it wasn’t on their property. The poor kid was coming out of a bar with some female friends – some thugs started giving the girls grief. This kid stood up for the girls…thug punches Colin, he falls and dies of a brain injury from hitting the sidewalk. FORTUNATELY, due to the publicity, all three asswipes have been arrested.
It’s starting to get national attention. Watch them do an about face real quick.
Only in america can such things happen. that is not even funny anymore. It is scary how the american companies are. It is already getting national attention. I even found it online. There is a video and article on it at http://www.zolaenterprises.com I think the link to some more of it is http://www.zolaenterprises.com/NEWS.htm
there is a ton of stuff there. American companies seem all the same and scary stuff to think to.
See, this is the type of business people resort to when they do not want to pay legal fees. The proper way to address this is in court where the company has complete rights to ask the estate to pay the money, if that is what they are owed. However, CCRT sent the victims family the letter in hopes that they will pay the money and CCRT wouldn’t have to pay legal fees.
This is like going to a funeral and sitting next to the deceased family and saying “I’m not sure if you know or not, but he owed me some money. Do you think you guys can just pay it?”
Who does that? Besides, this has gotten so much bad publicity that the organization will now have to do something considerable for the family of this victim just to safe face. I would imagine the legal counsel will be let go if they said to send the victims family a letter. Also, anyone who took part in distributing that letter will probably be released for conduct unbecoming of an employee or for the greater good of the organization.
I think the legal staff said CCRT is entitled to the money, which they probably are, but never said to send the victims mother a letter asking for the amount due. I’m sure that attorney would be quickly disbarred for recommending collections practices like that. He/she is probably shaking in their boots right now.