Joliet Couple Who Failed To Pay Rent Want $5,000 For Pain, Suffering: Lawsuit

JOLIET, IL - The Joliet Housing Authority filed a recent lawsuit against a Joliet couple who went on for months without paying their monthly rent at their downtown apartment complex, 311 North Ottawa Street. In 2015 and 2016, the Housing Authority also brought similar lawsuits against Angela M. Byrd-Davis and Daryl K. Davis. If it seems like a pain to collect their rent, it's becoming an even bigger pain now.

The couple is refusing to pay the more than $6,000 in late rent payments they already owe the Joliet Housing Authority, court records show. In fact, the defendants feel Joliet's Housing Authority should be paying them.

This month, acting without a lawyer, Angela Davis-Byrd filed a counter claim at the Will County Courthouse against the Joliet Housing Authority.

"Plaintiff believes these proceedings is a form of entrapment so said plaintiff cannot obtain housing," she wrote the court. "Plaintiff would ask that all rent and fees including court costs be denied defendant and that the plaintiffs be awarded pain and suffering in the amount of $5,000."

It remains to be seen how the Will County judicial system will rule on the matter. The case is set for a pretrial hearing on Aug. 4.

While Byrd-Davis continues to represent herself, the Joliet Housing Authority is represented by attorney Hannah R. Brennan of Mahoney, Silverman & Cross, one of Joliet's most notable law firms.

According to Brennan's filing, Byrd-Davis and Daryl Davis received notice back on March 30 about their continued failure to pay their monthly rent. At this point, the Housing Authority is entitled to retake possession of their apartment, the lawsuit states.

And if the Housing Authority gets its way, the couple accused of skipping out on their rent payments might pay a whole lot more than $6,000. "Plaintiff has incurred attorneys fees in enforcing the Lease Agreement," Brennan wrote in the lawsuit.

The two defendants owe $6,127 for unpaid rent, plus late fees, holdover rent, maintenance charges, attorneys fees and court costs, Brennan advised the court.

So, how does Byrd-Davis feel about the Housing Authority's lawsuit?

"Disputing amount of rent owed because we had opportunity to move out months ago but lost housing due to court eviction filing," she wrote the judge in her counter-claim. "Submitted appropriate documentation to solidify rent issues and payment(s) was made in the form of a money order to the defendant."

Byrd-Davis blames the Housing Authority for her ongoing legal troubles, court files show.

"Repeatedly harassed by apartment manager numerous times," she stated.

Image of Joliet Housing Authority's John Murphy Building via Google Maps