WIBTA if I take my roommate to court for accidentally destroying my medication?

r/

So I take a weight loss medication that requires it to be refrigerated at all times. I don’t have insurance so this stuff is pretty expensive for me to afford but I make room for it in my budget because it helps me save on things like fast food and not drinking alcohol.

Either way I came home a few days ago and I saw my medication sitting on the counter. My stomach dropped and I immediately rushed over hoping it was still cold but no, totally room temperature. I confronted my roommate and asked him why he took my medication out of the fridge. He apologized right away and said he had been cooking for a family gathering and was in and out of the fridge all day.

I explained that the medication costs me 670 dollars for a 3 month supply, which is a lot of my “fun money” that I don’t have to use on bills. I also explained the timing couldn’t have been worse since that was a bottle I had only taken 2 out of the 12 doses so almost the whole bottle was destroyed.

I wanted to be fair so I asked him to pay a flat 500 dollars for the doses that were destroyed, even though 10 doses comes out to more than that amount. He got very flustered and said there was no way he could afford to compensate me. I said I would be willing to do 100 dollars a month if that was easier on him but he said that was still way too much for him to afford. I told him it wasn’t fair for him to destroy something that expensive and not pay for it but he stated “it’s not like you need it to survive like insulin, if it was so important you could have kept it in a mini fridge or something”

I’ve tried talking to him about it since but he simply won’t breach the subject with me anymore and it’s putting a lot of strain on the roommate situation. I wanted to work something out with him but I seriously at this point am considering taking him to court for my damages. So……WIBTA?

Comments

  1. No_Mud5383 Avatar

    tell him that if he doesn’t agree to some type of payment plan then youll be forced to take him to court. youre not TA for doing that.

  2. LeaJadis Avatar

    No. You would not be the asshole. This is exactly what court is for. He literally destroyed your belongings and he needs to compensate you.

  3. jrm1102 Avatar

    NTA – well no

    But you may want to speak to your doctor. If this is a GLP-1, they may be used still depending on how long they were unrefrigerated and what temperatures they were exposed to.

  4. Player-non-player Avatar

    If you’re talking about ozempic like meds, according to my doctor, yes they should be kept refrigerated, but could be at room temp for awhile. He said for my 5 day trip I would be ok. I would check with your doctor. It could still be ok.

  5. LeoPines_12 Avatar

    NTA, the audacity to destroy your medication, refusing to pay for it, and blaming you instead. You’ve tried to be reasonable with him with so many options and he refused, take him to court, he deserves it. If he doesn’t want to do it willingly, he will be forced to.

  6. CraZKatLayD Avatar

    Check with your pharmacist. Since you had already used it twice, you may be okay to keep using it. Ozempic is okay to use after sitting at room temperature if it’s already opened. (Yes I know from experience… and also know the heart attack of seeing those expensive meds on the counter.)

    Q? Had you explained it to him prior to him leaving it on the counter that it was expensive medication that needed to be refrigerated? Guaranteed he will never do this again.

  7. kmprn2010 Avatar

    I was told 21 days out of the refrigerator is fine. One day won’t hurt it. Put it back in the fridge and use it and chalk it up to a lesson for him not to mess with refrigerated medication.

  8. KittiesRule1968 Avatar

    Call the police and report it. Many pharmacies and d9ctors will want a police report before they’ll authorize a refill in a situation like this. Happened to me when my former step daughter stole and sold my Dilaudid whilst going through chemo. I didn’t want to get her arrested or charged, both of which happened, but I has just filled the prescription and the pain likely would have eventually killed me. YWNBTA

  9. Used_Mark_7911 Avatar

    I hope you put the medication back in the fridge right away and didn’t throw it out yet. My recommendation would be to call the manufacturer. Being left out of the fridge for a few hours might be OK (even though you have every right to be mad he was a careless with your meds).

  10. AssistSignificant153 Avatar

    Take him to civil court, and find a new roomy. Dismissing the gravity of this is a total dick move!

  11. Competitive_Sleep_21 Avatar

    I would text him a few times about this so you have some texts as proof.

  12. Shot_Help7458 Avatar

    Ugh it’s probably okay

    If it was really that dangerous and life threatening for it to stay refrigerated, shouldn’t they keep you in a hospital or nursing home while you are taking it? 

  13. Lexi_Jean Avatar

    It’s medicine, if the doctor prescribed it, then it is necessary. I suggest warning him to give him another chance, but either way NTA.

  14. pennywitch Avatar

    Did you tell him what the medication was and how much it cost before hand?

  15. LarryEarl40 Avatar

    Make sure you don’t throw out the damaged medication. If it’s prescription medication you might not be due another refill unless you can produce the old medication.

  16. kittyrouge Avatar

    I’m in the UK and we are told that mounjaro is ok to keep at room temp once you start using it.

  17. peaceloveandmusic1 Avatar

    I suggest also looking for a roommate that isn’t such an ah. His logic is flawed, and his character has been shown.

  18. WeekendWorrier89 Avatar

    Is it Wegovy? This can sit out as long as your room temp doesn’t get too high.

  19. Illustrious_March192 Avatar

    NTA. This used to be common knowledge. You break it, you buy it. Very simple

  20. Iankalou Avatar

    How long was it out for?

    I take Terzepitide, which needs to be refrigerated.

    It can be out for around 24 hours before it can do bad.

    Not sure what you take, but maybe see if it’s still good so it doesn’t go to waste.

  21. MaineKlutz Avatar

    Did he know it had to be kept refrigerated? If so, he, to me, is the a h and should pay you. If not, then you don’t have a strong case, seems to me.
    Did he know it was this expensive? If yes (and yes on the first question) he, to me, is totally responsible.
    One yes may have some leniency. Two no’s: then you should have made hime aware that that one container is worth much more than he could guess, that would have been your responsibility. And that would require a lot of leniency.

    Anyway: NTA. But the case might not go the way you’d want.

  22. Sea_Firefighter_4598 Avatar

    Small claims court and get the mini fridge.

  23. Sad-Country-9873 Avatar

    NTA – if you do take him to court, then you may want to see if you can add a refrigerator to that. If he is forcing the matter. BTW – does he eat your food too? Is there any logical reason he would have taken it out of the fridge? Could he have moved it out of the way? Or was the bottle just too large and the fridge too small and has to set it aside to get what he wanted out?

  24. AnxiousAppointment70 Avatar

    Ask him to buy that mini fridge he suggested. He could afford that and it would prevent it from happening again. He should pay you back for the loss, so I suggest asking him how much per month he could afford. It’s better to get it back in small amounts than not at all. That’s all a court would do.

  25. NonSequitorSquirrel Avatar

    Did you confirm w your doctor or pharmacy that the medication cannot tolerate excursions at room temp for more than a couple hours? 

  26. TararaBoomDA Avatar

    >He apologized right away and said he had been cooking for a family gathering and was in and out of the fridge all day.

    I don’t buy this excuse. If he needs to go in and out of the fricking fridge, he puts your meds in the butter compartment or on the shelf at the back or something. He doesn’t take them out and leave them on the fricking counter all afternoon.

    He’s the asshole for that, as well as for not wanting to pay for the damage.

  27. Downtown-Session-567 Avatar

    Going forward, I would get a small fridge to keep your meds in in your room. They have ones no bigger than 6 pack of cans.. wouldn’t take up much room.

  28. B1L1D8 Avatar

    Simple, don’t touch shit that doesn’t belong to you. But, I am curious if he knew about this issue with your medication and if you are doing anything to ensure its safety in the fridge.

    To be honest, this is an insanely small amount of money to take someone to court over. Good luck and your representation will cost more than the medication is worth.

  29. Remarkable_Table_279 Avatar

    I’m wondering if he did it on purpose or the medicine was placed in a really really inconvenient location…but if he was planning for a family barbecue you’d be more cautious if kids were around. (Could have been one of his relatives too)
    NTA

  30. ddianka Avatar

    If you are gonna go through court, try to talk to him through text so you have proof of him denying to pay you and work with you. It will only help in your favor

  31. Content_Print_6521 Avatar

    I don’t think you’d win a court case over this. It seems like an over-reaction to say it’s “totally destroyed” for being unfrigerated a few hours, but I could be wrong. However, a court would probably say you should have gone to greater effort to keep it cold rather than keeping it casually in the common refrigerator.

    I don’t think you would win this. Get a new place or a different roommate.

  32. oceanteeth Avatar

    NTA but I strongly recommend moving out first if you possibly can. It’s going to be awkward as hell living with someone who hates you for taking them to court. 

  33. Asleep_Flower_1164 Avatar

    Your roommate should have taken responsibility immediately. Since he refuses your fair payment plan and dismisses the value of your medication, you’re justified in considering legal action. Let him know in a text or email, if you haven’t already, that you don’t want to break the cordial relationship over this. Clearly mention the medication’s price, your payment plan offer with specific dates, and the number of times you’ve tried to resolve the issue. Make it clear this is your final attempt. If he responds negatively or fails to pay by the first agreed date, you should proceed with suing him. This also helps document evidence for small claims court. Make sure you have proof of the cost of the medication.

  34. kittenqueen49 Avatar

    I don’t believe the medication is truly destroyed but even if it is, I would consider a few things before proceeding…

    Do you have issues with his roommate in other areas? Do you believe that this was an intentional act? Why did he take it out of the fridge to begin with? Is this going to be a repeated incident?

    If this is truly accidental, won’t repeat again, and you don’t have other issues with the roommate, I wouldn’t take them to court while you still live with them. I would wait until you and your roommate calms down more. Ask him what can he afford and how he can make it up to you. If you can even get him to pay 75 or 50 a month for the rest of the lease, it would probably still be better than nothing. You don’t want to strain the relationship.

    Regardless of the situation, I think it could be helpful to sit down with your roommate and explain the medication. People think it’s just for people with obesity and diabetes, but for a lot of people it goes deeper than that. My fatty liver disease is almost undetectable after 1.5 yrs on Zepbound. It was 1.5x the size it was supposed to be and my ALT and AST was extremely high. My lipid panel has drastically improved. It’s been helpful with obsessions of any kind but especially food. Idk what your circumstance is but maybe explain it if you are comfortable. People don’t pay this kind of money when other options are available. It’s a prescribed medication because it was deemed medically necessary by a doctor. You don’t need to be diabetic to need the med.

    If your roommate turns out to be argumentative, and he did this with complete disregard because “you dont need it,” or whatever else, take him to court. By what you described though he seemed panic and remorseful.

    Work with him and maybe in the future, get a mini fridge in your room. I’ve heard of people stealing doses of these meds too, so just be cautious of future roommates too.

  35. KimonoCathy Avatar

    Pretty unlikely that the medication will have suffered by being out of the fridge for a few hours. Check with your doctor or pharmacist before you escalate this.

  36. AmazingCantaly Avatar

    NTA, but check with the pharmacy, some meds are ok after a room temperature excursion, but the length of time that the excursion is acceptable varies from med to med

  37. amazonallie Avatar

    As an aside, if you are on the same as I am, it only needs to be refrigerated for storage.

    Once you get it, it doesn’t have to be refrigerated.

    Source: been on Ozempic for 2 years.

  38. throwaway1975764 Avatar

    NTA But just FYI semaglutide can be room temp for a day and still totally safe and effective.

    Also, you are very much on the higher end of pricing. Peruse r/semaglutide for the numerous posts about which companies are most affordable.

  39. Historical_Tax6679 Avatar

    If you can’t prove that you made it absolutely clear to him that this prescription absolutely cannot be left out of the fridge, told him specifically how much it costs, and explained how absolutely life-saving this medication is, then don’t bother going to court. The burden of proof is on you.

  40. talithar1 Avatar

    If he should agree to a payment plan, be sure to have a contract outlining the agreement!

  41. Runnrgirl Avatar

    NTA. This is exactly what small claims court is for.

  42. West_Category_4634 Avatar

    YTA.

    1. Did you tell him in advance what it was, it was expensive and thay it needed to be refrigerated? It doesn’t sound like it. Take some pro active responsibility for your own stuff.

    2. Get off your lazy ass and do some exercise.

  43. Head_Drop6754 Avatar

    Its still probably good. I know hcg and other peptides can survive getting warm even though its not ideal. Maybe a little loss of potency. You should probably put it in a lock box with some kind of wire attached to a good suction cup on the inside of the fridge so it’s hard to remove

  44. TitleBulky4087 Avatar

    It should be fine out of the fridge for a bit. Going forward, my suggestion would be one of those six can mini fridge’s in your room. Just keep it in there. That medication is expensive and that alleviates your roommate from making a costly mistake. https://www.walmart.com/ip/5257086013?sid=76d08286-0122-4e07-af12-c753e7334134

  45. Roo_102 Avatar

    As an aside, it is not ruined from being out of the fridge. Call your pharmacy before you throw it away.

  46. Strange_Jackfruit_89 Avatar

    NTA, but the meds are probably fine.

    I’m on similar meds AND my oldest and I are both diabetics who require insulin. We’ve accidentally left them out before.

    Insulin can be kept at room temp for 21-28 days, and I believe weight loss injections are able to as well. I’ve accidentally left them both out before while deep cleaning our fridge.

  47. velenom Avatar

    Was he informed in advance that this stuff needs to be refrigerated at all times, and absolutely can’t be left or off the fridge?

  48. CaptBlackfoot Avatar

    YTA if you’re calling it spoiled when it’s not. Read the package. GLP-1 medications, when already in use, can typically be stored at room temperature (up to 86°F) for a limited time, usually between 28 to 56 days, depending on the specific medication and brand.

    Are you sure you can’t safely continue to use it? It’s unlikely that 24 hours at room temp ruined anything, but call your pharmacist to confirm.