Bowie, MD asked in Civil Litigation, Small Claims, Criminal Law and Libel & Slander for Maryland

Q: My former roommate threatened to accuse me of crimes in an attempt to prevent me from filing a law suit.

The roommate owed me ~$550 for bills and the last month's bills. He paid about half. I threatened to take the matter to small claims court if he failed to pay his debt. He then threatened to accuse me of crimes if I did so. I have pictures of the conversation (it occurred over a texting app.) Did he commit extortion? And if so do I have a civil case against him?

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