I (28F) am in a dispute with my aunt (primary leaseholder), her boyfriend, my parents, my boyfriend, and me (6 adults total) over how to split a $10,000 settlement from a rent-controlled apartment case in Los Angeles County.
We were all named defendants in a lawsuit. It appeared we were likely to lose, so we collectively decided to move out voluntarily to avoid an eviction on our records. The settlement resulted from that decision.
For context: My aunt lived there 35 years. I lived there 8 years. Everyone else lived there about 5 years
Originally, there was a verbal understanding that the money would be split based on time lived, which favored my aunt. The attorney instead proposed splitting it evenly between three family units: (1) My aunt + her boyfriend, (2) My parents, and (3) Me + my boyfriend
At first, I agreed to the time-based idea. However, over the next 8 months, I ended up doing essentially all of the legal and administrative work, including:
1. Calling attorneys and attending rent-control legal meetings
2. Gathering documents and preparing exhibits
3. Researching case law
4. Going to court (about 6 hearings)
5. Driving downtown for certified copies
6. Communicating with the attorney
7. Taking time off work for hearings
No one else handled paperwork, court appearances, etc. I also spent an additional 3 months trying to find housing large enough for everyone so we could stay together and keep rent affordable.
At the beginning of the month, once housing was secured, I emailed the attorney confirming we were moving out and confirming the 3-way split. He confirmed this in writing, and reconfirmed again five days later.
That Saturday, my aunt confronted me about paperwork related to a separate $25k “keys for cash” offer she had received the year before, which required all adult occupants to agree and sign. During that conversation, she said she now wanted the entire settlement split based on time lived, stating it as final because she was the primary leaseholder and also bc she was offered the original $25K. She dismissed my work as being “for everyone” and referenced past help she had given me while I was in school, like not raising rent or paying utility bills.
I was upset. I told her she could have my share of the money, but I would make separate housing arrangements.
The next day, she said she would agree to the 3-way split after all and still live separately.
Then on Monday, the attorney told me my aunt and her daughter contacted him requesting the entire case file and attempted to argue the rest of us were “subtenants” and not entitled to the settlement. The attorney told them that didn’t matter, we were all defendants and all clients. They then tried to have all the settlement money wired directly to my aunt, which the attorney refused unless everyone agreed in person.
The relationship is now strained. So AITA for wanting the settlement split evenly into three parts after doing most of the legal and administrative work?
NTA if you were paying rent. You all lost a place to live. Who cares how long you were there. Your aunt sounds greedy.
NTA.
You are not more inconvenienced than others if you’ve lived there longer or what have you. That rationale would be selfish and emotional. The scope of the settlement is for an eviction only, not for the rest of your time living there. I don’t think working more in this case should entitle you to more share since it was not agreed upon beforehand, but basic decency would dictate that the share be split evenly amongst the people who are getting evicted because this is all impacting your livelihoods.
You’ve been had by agreeing initially, thus giving her ammo for a selfish and immature response. She feels like she’s being cheated because you had a deal, but anybody who wasn’t so self invested would recognize the work you’ve put in and agreed to changing such terms that should have been rejected in the first place.
This is key:
>the attorney told me my aunt and her daughter contacted him requesting the entire case file and attempted to argue the rest of us were “subtenants” and not entitled to the settlement. . . They then tried to have all the settlement money wired directly to my aunt, which the attorney refused
They were trying to steal your money. Screw them. You’re being fair enough as it is. It’s great that the attorney can recognise scammers.
NTA.
NTA There’s a reason why the law keeps defendant’s funds separated. It’s because people like your Aunt who see your money as her money. It’s to protect all of the defendants. Keep it that way so you can get away from her.
Esh.
There is no way to make a fair split. You did the work, your aunt secured the housing for 35 years, your parents spent the least amount of time and did no work. How to make it fair, how to compensate for the loss of living space?
There is no way there won’t be resentment on any side if there is so much tumult about essentially 3k.
Money brings out the worst in people, and you now at least know the amount of money – the very small amount, I might add, 10k split three ways is nothing – that you all are actually worth to each other. I hope it will be worth it for you all.
What are you even saying? Your harping how it isn’t possible to make it fair, but ultimately what you’re really saying is that because of this, they should accept the objectively least fair split because feelings. Doesn’t compute.
NTA. Who cares if the relationship is stained? I’m going to sound like an AH here, but there is 0 your aunt can do for you. If she is this greedy over a small sum of money like this, her relationship with you was nothing but a transactional thing that benefitted her as well. Nothing wrong with that, but that’s all your relationship equates to anyway, a transaction.
No harm no foul, take your cut and don’t get into an another arrangement that involves money with your aunt again, there will always be strings attached. In my experience, people like that hold you back l, not prop you up. You may excel in an environment without her.
NTA. That seems fair. People don’t realize the amount of time legal paperwork takes. If you try and rework the settlement now, you’ll be paying more to the lawyer. Just take have it split up the 3 ways that have already been agreed to.