My question involves a consumer law issue in the State of: Illinois
Considering Small Claims Court
Amount owed: $230 and this is a matter of principle.
The ex failed to pay the Sanitation bill which I believe includes sewage and garbage services at the apartment we were both previously on lease for. I believe she purposely did not pay it because she was reminded monthly by the realty co and she ignored it and allowed the bill to pile up. The bill was her responsibility in full as I did not live there for 14 months out of the 15 months the lease was for. The realty co. claims to have never received the check and the ex gf says she dropped it in their drop box. Based on previous dealings with her I don't believe she put the check in the drop box.
The realty co then took the $230 out of the security deposit which I paid up front and she had no part of paying. Ex gf refuses to pay the $230 for her own waste services. This takes place in Illinois and I live in Louisiana. Would either have to fly up to attend court or hire an attorney and would add cost of trip to fly up and/or attorney fees depending which way I'd go.
I have all the documentation I need including an email(s) with the ex gf stating that she will not pay the $230 because she feels the realty co caused her a loss of work time amounting to that much or more over the 15 months due to problems at the apartment. I have documentation stating the realty co did not receive the check. I have documentation showing I paid the security deposit. I have documentation showing I didn't live there for the last 14 months of the lease and the ex will not deny that either. Also, I believe her statement in email that the realty co cost her to miss more than $230 worth of her work time is a clear indication that she did not want to pay the waste services bill because she felt they owed her yet instead it came out of my pocket (security deposit).
Normally I would write this off, but I am not working at the moment and trying to start a new business. Funds are tight and really this is a matter of principle. I know .... $230 seems small, but I paid for her to live in that apartment all those months simply because I'm a nice guy, didn't want her to have to scramble for an apartment in the middle of her semester, cause I didn't want my credit ruined and because I'd signed the lease from hell.
As per a documented deal between her and I she had $500 a month coming to her for half of the time she was there and $350 to her for the last half of the lease. All that time I took care of her money-wise even though we were broken up and done with and now she sticks me ironically with the "sh_t bill". Funny? I guess so, but this was always the theme with her. NO INTEGRITY. She would always get away with something if she could and feel no remorse or guilty conscience about it later until caught.
Despite my extreme generosity and agreement for monies paid to the ex for her staying at the apartment for 14 months by herself do you think the judge would say that half the Sanitary bill was my responsibility?
What is the likelihood I could collect trip costs and/or attorney fees if I sue her in small claims court?
Is there a better route to go? Get an attorney to write her a letter?

