Just yesterday I successfully settled one of my "roommate" holdover cases in housing court and circumvented trial with a little bit of fierce negotiation maneuvering and strategizing. I got my client everything she wanted in the settlement. It also, of course, helped to have a reliable witness show up in court at the right critical moment!
Generally, this victory was no easy task because I was dealing with a difficult opposing pro se (prime tenant) litigant who did not want to negotiate, save the threat of trial with a witness (and attorney) who would unveil more truth than the litigant could bear to stand – especially with facts that involved false pretenses.
In the end, everything worked out well in the negotiation and both parties were made whole by the stipulation. My client got a comfortable amount of time to move, as well, which is exactly what she was looking for. She was extremely happy with the outcome. I can't say the same about the pro se litigant who was hoping to have my client evicted from the apartment in as little as two weeks. A terrific victory for an overall very dramatic case.