Old landlord is taking my dad to court for $22,000
Hi Maryland resident here. Title pretty much explains. My family lived at this house for five-ish years. My dad had his business and we also lived there. Rent was around $5k a month I think. It started out lower bc there was someone in the basement but then increased after they left.
My landlord was very weird. He would walk into our rooms when weren’t home and would take pictures. One time he came to collect rent and i think my dad was late on rent and he took a picture of me holding my chickfila food.
He never paid to repair anything. My dad really wanted to buy this house so my dad paid for everything. He even paid for the property tax. Our house broken into and the landlord didnt care about our wellbeing or safety. Im pretty my dad paid to fix the door after the break in.
But my dad wasnt perfect either. he ran a failing business. never built credit to get his house loan approved and was on late on rent multiple times. After this house got broken into we decided to leave this place and we did.
now the landlord is taking my dad to court for damages in $22,000. which is genuinely ridiculous!!!! that house is old and doesnt even a have a modern heating system. my dad is broke! his business is in negatives. has no assets and owes the IRS money.
What should he do to navigate this? he dismisses everything and doesnt tell us anything. but im very worried about him.
Not to sound selfish but can this affect me financially since i also lived there? my name was not on the lease I think.