OK I get it:
I assume the old apartment was in new York City...
then.....
YOU ILLEGALLY SUBLET THE RENT STABILZIED APARTMENT
And since he died guess what???? the rent wanst paid and YOUR NAME was still on a Valid lease, so they issued an evcition notice but since they do have to serve you with papers... it took them 4 years to track you down.
In NY you are VERY VERY lucky, you must be served personally with court papers in order for the landlord to get a MONEY judgment against you.
So the landlord went to court and got a judgment of posession of the apartment and charged you for the months it was empty plus court costs and legal fees.
so you more then likely will owe the $3100. IF you could find the check or reciept for the deposit it could be deducted IN FULL off what you owe. If you keep good records that is.
Now they can hire a process server, serve you and continue the suit.
So....... If you had ANY brains whatsoever you would have realized the $585 rent is utterly DIRT CHEAP, and to make a profit on subletting is illegal.
If your apartment was in NYC then.........
You could have negotiaed with the landlord to give up your apartment and have the landlord PAY YOU to terminate the lease. Since he could automatically raise the rent 20% PLUS any rennovation costs....
As you can tell im pissed at you.....if you were smart YOU would owe ZERO and they would have paid you probably $10,000 to vacate the apartment.
PS---------------
I would Immediately curtail ALL SPENDING, cancel any vaction plans since if you have a court date they will not postpone if just becuse you have a non refundable ticket to the bahamas.
I would make sure You DONT get Pregnant!!!!!!
NO buying of LUNCH take it from home, NO cabs, NO eating out, NOTHING........
You just might need to come up with some money fast!