After using his textbooks, a 19-year old law student won his first case in court while still studying at university. He was attempting to sue a landlord for his unfit university halls.
Jack Simm was an undergraduate who sued his landlord because his apartment looked ‘like construction sites’ after he moved into it in September 2020.
As a freshman at the University of East Anglia, Mr Simm spent a year fighting for the case. He is now a winner – even though he’s still in his second.
The case won was his perfect revision for law school, he said.
Jack Simm, a student at the University of Michigan, sued his landlord over an alleged breach in contract. His flat was referred to as a ‘construction site’ upon his first move-in September 2020.
Ahead of his one-hour hearing at a civil court last month, Mr Simm referred to statutes and case law that he’d learnt in his studies to build a 10-page legal claim for a refund on his deposit and first month’s rent – amounting to £859.
Following a number of difficulties with Velocity Student accommodation, he sued Velocity Student accommodation.
Simm also played rugby at the university. He said that it was “the best piece of revision” he’d ever done.
“Funnily enough, while I was preparing for the case, I was also studying contract law. So I opened the book and looked over the notes.
“I found myself in an actual situation that had real consequences. It was hard to believe that I had been thrown in the deep end.
The fact that I won proves my ability to win is a proof of my capability. I feel a lot more confident.
Simm claimed that Simm’s landlord had breached his contract because the Norwich accommodation he had rented for one year was unfit to be used.
Jack said there were no Wi-Fi or heating, that the place was dirty and had builders working around the room. Jack arrived at UEA via clearing days prior to the beginning of term.
Following a week of being told by the landlord that he had not rectified the problems, Simm quit the Halls. He then began to build his legal case.
Newcastle undergraduate said that he arrived at the place by driving down. It looked more like an abandoned construction site than it did as a home.
“In my room, there was dust everywhere and loud noises coming from the people who were grinding away at it.
“It was freezing at night, no heating. It was like a strong odor.
“We allowed the landlord to deal with everything for a week, but nothing was resolved by the end so we moved out and I handed in my keys.”
Jack said, “Other people tend to be more accommodating and get taken by the long grass.” [by complaining].
‘I thought ‘’I’m not being taken for a fool’’.
“The hardest part of the process was to make sure that everything was in order. I continued to refine the case until it was ready for court.
On November 2, Newcastle County Court ruled in Mr Simm’s favour and ordered that he be paid £859 to cover his deposit and first month’s rent.
The court also ordered the landlords to pay £140 in court fees.
Estateducation managed the accommodation, which was created by Freedman Project LLP. Freedman Project LLP was the respondent.