In the world of urban rentals, there are bad tenants, and then there are legends. Melissa Cummins and Maria De Palma took their seats in a courtroom to decide which one was which. What began as a simple dispute over a security deposit quickly spiraled into a cautionary tale of “spite, steam, and broken boilers.”

The Sudden Departure

Melissa Cummins, a doctor, was the tenant who needed out. Citing a family emergency—her father’s failing health—she informed her landlord, Maria De Palma, that she was leaving her month-to-month rental with only two or three days’ notice.

While the Judge acknowledged the family crisis, the law was less sympathetic. In the world of real estate, “I’m leaving tomorrow” isn’t notice; it’s an abandonment of the contract. Melissa wanted her full $995 security deposit back immediately. Maria, however, had a chilling story of what she found after the keys were (supposedly) turned in.

The 90-Degree Trap

Maria De Palma recounted her arrival at the vacant apartment with a neighbor as a witness. What she found was a scene of calculated chaos. Despite it being a cold season, every window in the apartment was flung wide open. Simultaneously, the thermostat had been cranked to its maximum setting: 90 degrees.

The result? The boiler, pushed to its absolute limit to fight the incoming cold air, began banging and creating excessive steam. The thermal stress caused gaskets to blow and air vent valves to leak.

“She was playing with the landlord’s money,” the Judge noted. “If the tenant is spiteful, costing the landlord more money than the tenant should pay, why should they get a penny back?”

The “If Not You, Then Who?” Defense

Melissa vehemently denied the sabotage. “I only left the kitchen light on,” she insisted. “I never went back.”

But the evidence was stacked against her. Maria presented an affidavit from another tenant and a detailed bill from a boiler technician. The repairman’s report was damning: “Vacant apartment had heat set at max 90… created gaskets and air vent valves to leak. Had to replace all.”

The judge’s logic was surgical:

Melissa was angry because she knew she wasn’t getting her deposit back due to the lack of 30-day notice. She still had access to the apartment. And cn one else had a motive to destroy the boiler in such a specific, spiteful way.

The Verdict: Spite Costs Extra

In a rare move, the judge didn’t just allow Maria to keep the repair costs—she allowed her to keep the entire deposit. “I can’t live in a world where someone does something so spiteful and then gets $400 back,” the Judge declared. The remaining balance was awarded to the defendant as punitive damages—a legal “fine” for Melissa’s malicious behavior.

As Melissa walked out, still insisting she was innocent, Maria breathed a sigh of relief. It was a nightmare end to a rental agreement, proving that in the courtroom, revenge is a dish best served… at exactly 90 degrees with the windows open.