Ripped off by A-Bodies member!!!!

hi ilcuda65..
unfortunately in today's world one almost has to keep an attorney on a permanent retainer. after some 25 years of practice, i still maintain my law office in pittsburgh but am basically retired at this point. i have purchased scores of things off of ebay and other places. the 68 cuda that i am just finishing arrived at my house after i filed a law suit against the owners in oregon who thought they could just back out of the deal after our agreement was securred with a large initial deposit. i filed suit here in pittsburgh (for an amount of money much more than the sales price) then contacted a "process server" in the town in oregon and had that person knock on the person's front door and hand him the law suit. for some reason after the guy talked to a local attorney he apprently changed his mind about reniging on the deal. i paid the balance to the guys' attorney and the car arrived in exactly the same condition as advertised. in your case, i would suggest that you go to your local "small claims court" "magistrate" "district justice" and file a suit against the person you are talking about. add $1k to the amount of money you have paid this guy for your damages for having to sue and then send the law suit papers to the guy certified mail, return receipt requested. if he does not accept this mail, find a "process server" in his area and have him served personally. he will then have to defend your action where you live (which will be expensive) or send you your money back or wait for a judgment against him. if he blows all this process off and ignors you, the district court judge will issue a judgment in your favor. in most states, a judgment of any court becomes final after 30 days. if he does nothing, on about the 35th day after your judgment call the courthouse where this guy lives and ask the process for "enforcing a foreign judgment" in their jurisdiction. they will tell you how to have your judgment "transferred" to their court. once that is done, you can move to collect your judgment by taking his bank account or even having his personal property sold. it may take some time, but there are legal processes that you can pursue that will get your money back if this guy has any assets and i will assume that he does.

don't give up. i try to be very nice to everyone and try very hard to resolve disputes. however, i have been faced with more than one person who thought they could just do what they wanted with no consequences. in those few instances, i have just opened up a "can of legal whup-***" and have gone all nuclear on them.

good luck.
jim coster, pittsburgh, pa