Haunting goes to Court

[sadie1263]

NEW YORK, NY -- When a New Jersey couple moved into a rental home and noticed it was haunted, they stopped paying their landlord rent, and wanted to break their lease and move out. Soon after, Josue Chinchilla and Michele Callan filed a lawsuit in the New Jersey state court and the case quickly became national news.

According to court documents, Josue Chinchilla and Michele Callan alleged several paranormal experiences shortly after moving into the Toms River, NJ home. Chinchilla and Callan said they heard dragging noises coming from the basement, and they heard footsteps and voices at night while in bed.

The couple also claimed they came home to find their clothes thrown out of their bedroom closet, and doors throughout the house could be heard opening and slamming shut almost on a daily basis.

Josue Chinchilla and Michele Callan are engaged to be married, and they moved into the house on March 1st, 2012 with Callan’s teenage daughter and 6-year-old son. The couple said before they could even settle into the house, the paranormal activity became so intense that they were forced to move out of the house, breaking their lease.

The couple moved their family into a local motel on March 10th, just ten days after moving into the house, and after they were unable to get their money back from their landlord, Dr. Richard Lopez, they filed what is being called one of the most unusual lawsuits of all time.

Producers with the People's Court television show comb through thousands of lawsuits being filed across the United States every day. They came across the case filed by Chinchilla and Callan and were able to get the couple and the landlord agree to have their case heard on the show.

On May 4th, 2012 the real-life haunted house case of Chinchilla and Callan vs. Lopez was heard by Judge Marilyn Milian of the nationally syndicated television program, The People's Court. Although the case will not be seen on television until the start of the shows new season in September, a judgement was made.

Judge Marilyn Milian ruled on behalf of the landlord, Dr. Richard Lopez, a New Jersey dentist, and homeowner of the reportedly haunted rental house. Judge Milian ordered Josue Chinchilla and Michele Callan to pay Lopez three month's rent, and since many of their possessions are still in the house, the couple would also forfeit their security depost.

In addition the this ruling, Judge Milian ordered the landlord, Dr. Richard Lopez, to spend a night in the allegedly haunted house, as it's only fair for a landlord to experience what he is expecting for other couples to live in when they rent the house.

"Whether or not the New Jersey house is haunted appears to have been immaterial under the law", Michele Callan said, who doesn't think the ruling was fair.

www.hauntedsociety.com/profiles/blogs/1news02-new-jersey-haunted-house-lawsuit-ruling-paranormal-news

[Hunny]

There are mental disorders which can cause people to feel
certain things are happening which arent. They should be
checked for that. Just to rule it out as the cause...

[Deleted]

Maybe, but I've seen enough strange things not to dismiss the possibility of ghosts.

[sadie1263]

I think I have one in my house. But I think she just comes by to check on things. Nothing ever happened until the previous owner passed away. And now we just have some lights that turn on by themselves......and other small random things.......months will go by....and then a few things happen.....and then again....months......so I just believe she makes the rounds checking on everyone. I loved her....she was like a grandmother to me......so we're cool.

[sadie1263]

But then again........if you went to a bunch of my friends.....even before you asked them about a ghost....they would go with mental disorder for me too.........lol