Please please HELP -- Need some advice

Ok, this is the situation. I just moved into an apartment in New York last October with some random person I met on Craigslist. The person I moved in with had just moved into the apt. as well and has been subletting the apt. from her friend (who's not living in the apt. and is living overseas). I'm not sure if she's on the lease or if it's only her friend's name. Just recently, she told me that she would be moving out in about three weeks on Feb. 15 (and pretty much, expected me to pay the last two weeks of Feb. on my own). I send her a reply stating that I also would be moving out on Feb. 15 contingent on 1) the receipt of her share of the utilities which are in my name, and 2) the receipt of my deposit. She has not responded or kept appointments we've set up to talk about the situation, so I'm pretty sure she's going to be a bitch about it and not pay me the large sum of money she owes me. What recourse do I have to get this money (other than small claims, b/c I had won a case in small claims in the past and never received any of the money). If I stay in the apartment without paying rent until I am compensated for the money she owes me, 1) what recourse can she take against me (we have nothing in writing).. she's threatening "another course of action" if I don't pay rent, and 2) I know that the landlord can evict me with a court notice, but can he sue me for the rent if I'm not on the lease? He may not even bother because the lease is up on March 31st anyways plus he still has their deposit. Please, someone tell me what is the best course of action to take.

Youre obviously an Anime fan and a very cool person. If I were you and could get in touch with this person's parents I would. You have to exhaust all remedies because aint nothing funny if you dont have any money. Depending on the age of this person is whether you should get their folks involved but it usually works because parents hate to have problems as old as they are or their hard-earned reputations tarnished.

You could try contacting the over-seas girl but youhad better do it quickly because Feb 15 is around the corner.

If you have a boyfriend or another close personal friend you could chill over at their place the majority of the evenings and make life a living h*** for your roommate by going ahead and turning everything off in the apartment and let her deal like that and light candles while drinking warm bottled water from the cabinets. U would suffer just a little but remember the fundamental law of equivalent exchange. Full M A

You could start selling some of her stuff on the street and go ahead and "get you" while you can. At that point the only recourse would be for her to pay for her portion of the rent and then you give her the cash for the sold items. She's already at fault.

Or maybe Im crazy? good luck and WIN.

Have you contacted the landlord to back you up? I dont fully understand whether the overseas friend OWNS the apt complex or is simply subleasing a unit to you and your roommate. Notifying the landlord will be adhering to proper chain of command.