While some students are in the process of fighting battles against their landlords, the struggle for one group of students is over.

Adam Freedgood (junior-marketing) and his roommates were involved in a lawsuit with their landlord, GN Associates, 119 S. Burrowes St. They were awarded about $300, including court fees, last week after winning their case.

Freedgood and his roommates started questioning GN's claims in September. The tenants were given roughly half of their $1,550 security deposit, along with a checklist of the damages for which GN was charging them.

On March 24, Freedgood and his roommates appeared in court with no lawyer but were able to provide photographic evidence during the hearing.

A representative from GN Associates declined to comment about the case.

Before appearing in court, Freedgood and his roommates went to their old apartment and asked the current tenants if they could enter to take pictures, which they were permitted to do.

"After court, we felt that we had come prepared with our documents and no lawyer," Freedgood said. "We did the best we could without a lawyer."

While Freedgood and his roommates were only awarded a small portion of the initial $5,173 suit, Freedgood said they were anxious for a verdict.

"After all the preparation and gathering documents, it was a little disappointing, but we were prepared. It is rare for students to go up against a large realtor like GN," Freedgood said.

District Justice Carmine Prestia awarded the tenants $100 for general cleaning fees, as well as about $75 for vertical blind slats, for which the tenants were originally charged $85.

Prestia said most similar cases involve landlords suing tenants for non-payment of rent.

"It's unusual for students to sue their landlord," Prestia said. "It's not a common occurrence, and it doesn't happen that often."

Prestia added that the number of landlord-tenant lawsuits have dropped in the past year.

"From 2002 to 2003, civil landlord-tenant cases dropped 10 percent. In 2002, there were 348 landlord tenant cases docketed, and in 2003, there were 285 cases," Prestia said.

After questioning the realtor, as well as filing a complaint with the Bureau of Consumer Protection in State College, Freedgood and his roommates felt they were still not being compensated the amount they were owed.

"This was the third time these complaints were brought to the attention of GN," Freedgood said.

In February of 2003, the tenants filed a lawsuit with the district court in State College against GN Associates.