Why doesn't the following code work?

        var err = document.getElementById(text-error).value;

        if (err == Team already exists) {

            $('#text-error').fadeIn(400).delay(3200).fadeOut(800);

        } 

The error does not fade in or fade out.

Checked the console - no problems.

Also, this particular error is sent via the server.

The fade in and fade out work for my client side errors - but not errors pertaining to my database like this one - if that makes any difference to the problem.

UPDATE

After console logging - I realize that it does not enter the if statement, even though it clearly equals it - via html code and via a quick glance at the page.