Landlord Sued Over Paranormal Activity

Posted on 23. Apr, 2012 by Bryan Ives in News

In what must be one of the more bizarre lawsuits filed, a New Jersey couple is suing their landlord for their $2,250 deposit, claiming the home is haunted. Michelle Callan and Josue Chinchilla claim they were victim to a variety paranormal activity in the Toms River Home, including clothes flying out of their closet, flickering lights, menacing voices and moving bed sheets.
Chinchilla told ABC News that he once had an invisible hand on his shoulder, and even was hospitalized for panic attacks due to the paranormal experiences. The couple and her two children left the rental back in March, claiming their lives would be in “mortal danger” should they return.
Their landlord wasn’t born yesterday, and is countersuing the couple, claiming the suit is an attempt to break their yearlong lease and avoid the $1,500 monthly rent. “Frankly, there is something else going on,” Lopez’s lawyer David told the Asbury Park Press. “She is a single mom, she has this fiancé living with her. I think she is in over her head and she can’t afford the rent.”
According to Callan, it wouldn’t make sense to flee one week after moving in with the rent paid for the month if there wasn’t some validity to their story. Even if Lopez knew the place had a history of similar reports, and rented it out to the couple, he still would not be liable. The majority of U.S. states do not have renter/seller disclosure laws that apply to non-material facts.