We had to renew the lease tonight and as I'm looking over the contract I see that it repeatedly says the landlord shall be responsible for absolutely nothing. Basically, even if the landlord walks up to the property and writes graffiti all over the walls, and everyone sees him/her do it, the RESIDENT is the responsible party and shall take care of any fees for removal of graffiti, and if they don't, they shall incur a fee because the apartment is not being maintained...

It's complete and utter CRAP which I expected, I know how these things go. But then as I continue reading, one of the paragraphs that I'm required to initial says this: "The resident hereby waives the Resident's right to demand a jury trial in any cause of action arising between landlord and Resident concerning this contract."

So, if I have an issue with the landlord and need to dispute the contract, I'm not allowed to have a trial over it? Is that seriously legal?

I really don't want to sign this garbage, but I don't know what (if anything) I can do to fight the contract and have it re-worded.

Any of the older and wiser members with experience in this stuff, I would *really* appreciate your help. I have to sign this and give it back to them within the next few days, so ... yeah.