Shameless squatters suing NY woman and her realtor for getting 'unfairly ... trends now
The shameless squatters who sued a New York woman and her realtor for getting 'unfairly evicted' after they broke into the home finally surrender their weeks-long court battle.
On Friday, homeowner Juliya K., appeared with her realtor Ejona Bardhi, and attorney Rizpah Morrow at Queens court to face off with Rondie L. Harris and Lance Hunt, Jr., the brazen squatters, who were scheduled to testify, but they were a no-show.
Last month, the men had set up mattresses, a flat screen TV and a massage table inside the $530,000 home that they claimed to have legally leased months earlier and refused to leave.
Hours before the scheduled hearing their attorney David Harris filed an e-letter informing the court that his petitioners wanted to discontinue the proceeding and just wanted to get their belongings returned.
Judge Vijay M. Kitson dismissed the case with prejudice - meaning the squatters cannot come back and sue them for illegal lockout or an unlawful conviction, and said have no right to possession of property.
He told the attorney's they would have make their own arrangements in getting the squatter belongings back to them and that he has no jurisdiction on the matter.
Though Juliya is now able to move her two new tenants into the property, she remains disheartened.
In an interview with DailyMail.com she explained that she did not feel like the issue was resolved, and was distressed that they faced no consequences for breaking into her home.
'The judge did all that he could although the criminals got away with this without even a slap on the wrist,' she said.
'They committed a crime. They got away with it. I had to incur financial, emotional, and psychological stress with this case.'
(pictured l-r) Homeowner Juliya K. has had to appear in court twice after the squatters who broke into her home sued her and dragged her to court. She is standing next to her realtor Ejona Bardhi and her attorney Rizpah Morrow
Juliya K and her realtor were troubled that the squatters faced no real consequences
The Jamaica, Queens home is located on Lakewood Avenue
Morrow expressed that she would have preferred if there was 'a bit more court intervention', saying: 'The judge just let them discontinue the case - without any terms or conditions - he let them discontinue with prejudice and he is reserving their right to their stuff.'
She added: 'We felt that we had a really good case, in terms of they're not doing a lockout and that they had no rights to be restored to possession, and it seems like a real abuse of this court process when there are so many tenants out there who need the court intervention.'
Bardhi, who works with Top Nest Properties, and had been working diligently to have her clients tenants move-in before they were dragged to court by the squatters, was disappointed that they faced zero repercussions.
'They dropped all of it and continue like this never happened,' Bardhi said, 'they didn't want to admit to anything and withdrew their claims.
'At the same time the seller doesn't get anything for damages, and still have to eat that one month of rent they lost out on and the legal fees no one is reimbursing anyone for legal fees.'
Based on the agreement with the judge, the woman agree that in order for the squatters to get their belongings back they would need to give them an itemized list to prevent any further legal issues from happening.
Bardhi said: 'We are now taking the position of we don't know what items they want returned. This leaves us open to another lawsuit because they can say we kept some of their items.'
The women leaving Queens court after Friday's proceeding
'We are requesting that they send an itemized list of what was there, who entered the property, how did those items get there, and provide ID for whoever is coming to pick up these supposed belongings they left behind.'
She added: 'I don't know if the attorney's will come to a resolution as it pertains to belongings. We still have no clarity on exactly what happened here. In the eyes of the court they didn't come forth and admit to anything.
'They basically withdrew their claims. We answered their claims. We came prepared for a trial than they withdrew their claims without clarification
Juliya said: 'These two men broke into my house and they claim to have property there. I would like to know how did they get into the property?'
She said lawmakers need to have laws in order to protect people and its citizens.
'We need to advocate for ourselves and honest homeowners and not allow the squatters to take over.'
David Harris, who was representing the squatters told DailyMail.com during their March 22 court appearance that his clients believed that they may have been scammed.
But, Morrow said in Friday at the courthouse, if the squatters believed they were scammed then why would they not want to investigate and see who scammed them.
She added: 'Apparently their case was not very good. Their evidence was not very good.'
'They said that they have been there from the first of January and we have the broker who has been handling the rental of the property, who went there on several occasions in February, had a section 8 inspection. We have videos with the date. These guys were not there on the first of January.'
Juliya said: 'We showed up to court twice. They left the last time and they didn't show up today.'
She added: 'They were not scammed. We were scammed. We had to show up to court two times and now I have to incur legal fees.'
Lance Hunt, Sr. (pictured) told DailyMail.com his name was Michael. He appeared in court on behalf of his son, Lance Hunt, Jr, one of the alleged squatters. It is unclear if his son ever appeared in court
Rondie L. Francis, pictured in the courthouse, who reportedly was living in the home unlawfully claims to be a YouTuber
Lance Hunt Sr. and Juliya steal a glance at one another in the court house
On March 22, there was an emergency lockout on the case that was scheduled for April 5 after the squatters left the court early, and their attorney David Harris, left the court to tend to a family emergency.
On Friday morning, Harris, filed in e-letter to the court hours before the trial stating that 'the petitioners have authorized him to discontinue the proceeding'.
In the letter, Harris wrote that 'they no longer desire to be restored to the premises but would like to make an arrangement to retrieve the property'.
On March 5, Bardhi visited the property for a site check before allowing tenants to move in and found the locks had been changed.
Inside the property was squatters Lance Hunt Jr. and Rondie L. Francis, who claimed to have legally leased the property since January and refused to leave, and hired an attorney to sue them.
An emergency lockout hearing was held on Friday March 22 at Queens County Civil Court after their attorney served the homeowner, and the realtor.
During the proceeding, Morrow asked the judge for a trial on the grounds that the two men acted in an unlawful manner. 'They perpetrated a fraud,' Morrow told the judge.
The judge told her that she is entitled to a trial, and said: 'Let them come to court and testify.'
But when the judge asked their attorney where his clients were, Harris told the judge one of them 'had to go to work'.
At this point Bardhi, who was representing the homeowners in court, intervened and told the judge, 'he left because he did not want to get arrested'.
When the homeowner asked the judge if their new tenants could move in before the next court date. The judge agreed but warned them it may complicate the case.
After the hearing was adjourned and the chambers doors were closed, Lance Hunt, Sr., the father of the second alleged squatter Lance Hunt, Jr., who told DailyMail.com his name was
