Why do some people choose the hard route?

[waterinthefuel]

A couple of weeks ago my neighbors dog attacked my dog. I have a rat terrier, he has a HUGE german shepherd. I not only personally witnessed the attack, my home security camera system caught it all, clear as day, including me chasing the dog away. Well, I call animal control and the guys dog is hauled off and he has to pay 25 to get it back. I bring mine to the vet and get her checked out, 45 dollars later I roll out with instructions to limit her physical activity for a week.

I send him a certified letter requesting payment for the vet bill, and low and behold, I get a certified letter from a lawyer saying that he has retained counsel and to no longer contact him! LOL :laugh: You've got to be joking!!! LOL Well, I try to call his lawyer and I get no reply, so now I've emailed him and stated the attack was caught on camera, and if his client wishes to persue this case, he will lose and it will cost him far more than 50 dollars, as I will sue for lost wages, gas, court costs, postage, everything. The total will be over 300 if he wishes to persue this. How this guy can make a stupid decision like this is beyond me. The cop involved was even nice enough to tell him I have a video of the incident. He was informed of this after he lied to the sheriff telling him that my dog was in the street.

This is so frustrating. If this man would just pay me 50 bucks I'll call it even and we're done. But he's not going to get away with it.

 

[SigSaurP229]

Re: Why do some people choose the hard route?

Pretty simple if you aren't willing to eat the $50.00 then essentially what you need to do is stop dickering around and take it to small claims court. I had an incident once where I warned the gentleman several times, that he owed me $350.00 for a damage deposit, he refused to pay repeatedly. I finally called him after sending him a certified letter, he refused again filed the documents two weeks later ended up with $700.00 $350+ punitive damages.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Why do some people choose the hard route?

I'm sure the guy's lawyer won't be inexpensive either. Some folks just need to be right.

 

[bajaunderground]

Re: Why do some people choose the hard route?

It's called a stupid tax! For some, it's way more than the initial amount owed!

 

[waterinthefuel]

Re: Why do some people choose the hard route?

Pretty simple if you aren't willing to eat the $50.00 then essentially what you need to do is stop dickering around and take it to small claims court. I had an incident once where I warned the gentleman several times, that he owed me $350.00 for a damage deposit, he refused to pay repeatedly. I finally called him after sending him a certified letter, he refused again filed the documents two weeks later ended up with $700.00 $350+ punitive damages.

I'm not dickering. I have to wait 10 business days from the day he received the certified letter from me before I can file. That will be March 13th.

The justice of the peace has told me he can't "make him pay" even if I do win, and that I'd have to go to the courthouse and file something. I know in LA we can't put a lien on his house, but I can garnish his wages or get money out of his bank account.

 

[nwcove]

Re: Why do some people choose the hard route?

geez, ya'd think the guy would pay the $50, apologize, and call to see how your dog was doing!

 

[waterinthefuel]

Re: Why do some people choose the hard route?

geez, ya'd think the guy would pay the $50, apologize, and call to see how your dog was doing!

No kidding! That's what I'm saying! He rode by on his 4 wheeler with his dog in tow, the dog attacked mine, and the guy didn't even slow down after yelling something to me. After I sent him the letter, you'd think he'd just pay. He's going to be hard headed about this, he's going to pay a pretty penny.

I spoke with another neighbor down the street and she said "Oh my god, had my dog done that I'd have been asking you if you needed ME to take her to the vet!" Yea, that's what a normal person would do.

Edit: I forgot to add that last week when he rode by on his 4 wheeler and I was checking my mail, he flipped me the bird. That was right after he got my letter. THAT is actually why I'm persuing this.

 

[Jim Hawkins]

Re: Why do some people choose the hard route?

The worst part of this is not the $50 but that you have a **** for a neighbor. Handle it wrong and it will only get worse. I can't stand that type of in your face person and they always seem to go unscathed. Put some thought into this, being right is not enough and a neighbor with a vendetta is not fun. One thing I believe works best is that anytime you have a gripe with a neighbor go see them face to face first,stay calm and reason and use the law, letters or lawyers if that doesn't work. Good luck, I feel for ya.

 

[SigSaurP229]

Re: Why do some people choose the hard route?

Yes you can attach a garnishment to his bank account, wages, lien the house, anything you want. Doesn't matter if it is $50 or $5,000,000 the cost of doing those things are expensive but they do get tacked on to what he will owe you.

If his dog had done that to mine and on my own yard in Tennessee I would have been in perfect rights to shoot his dog.

 

[waterinthefuel]

Re: Why do some people choose the hard route?

The worst part of this is not the $50 but that you have a **** for a neighbor. Handle it wrong and it will only get worse. I can't stand that type of in your face person and they always seem to go unscathed. Put some thought into this, being right is not enough and a neighbor with a vendetta is not fun. One thing I believe works best is that anytime you have a gripe with a neighbor go see them face to face first,stay calm and reason and use the law, letters or lawyers if that doesn't work. Good luck, I feel for ya.

Thank you. I would have gone see him face to face, but I didn't get a chance to. I called animal control and the sheriff, then we all boogeyed to the vet and animal control went and got the guys dog while I was at the vet. Animal control told me the guy was PISSED, so I knew I wasn't going to approach him in person. This guy isn't friendly at all.

 

[SigSaurP229]

Re: Why do some people choose the hard route?

Nope at this point you DO NOT want to see him face to face paperwork has started, if you are on his property it can be considered tresspassing. If he isn't wanting to pay the bill then do what needs to be done. I would also make it abundantly clear to animal control and the Sheriffs department the dog has a violent history and should it be on my property again I will defend myself and my animals from it. $.025 is alot cheaper than a vet bill.

 

[kfa4303]

Re: Why do some people choose the hard route?

Good grief :/ People can't chew gum without lawyering up it seems. I guess he has lots of free time and money he wants to waste. I hope your pup-pup is ok.

 

[boat127]

Re: Why do some people choose the hard route?

Wow sueing over 50 bucks I would just eat the 50 and call it a day
It's a sue happy world

 

[Lone Duck]

Re: Why do some people choose the hard route?

Nope at this point you DO NOT want to see him face to face paperwork has started, if you are on his property it can be considered tresspassing. If he isn't wanting to pay the bill then do what needs to be done. I would also make it abundantly clear to animal control and the Sheriffs department the dog has a violent history and should it be on my property again I will defend myself and my animals from it. $.025 is alot cheaper than a vet bill.

If you have to shoot the dog,then you have to punish the owner. One way to do that is to take him to court and hit him hard in the pocket book. He must be responsible for his and the dogs actions. After all the dog is just copying his attitude. people do not realize how much a dog copies your character.

 

[kfa4303]

Re: Why do some people choose the hard route?

Can't a judge dismiss the case outright once they see the vid, or something?

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Why do some people choose the hard route?

My dog got attacked by a neighbor dog on my property. I took him to the vet, got him fixed up for $150 and called it a day. The neighbor knew what happened but for $150, I was willing to keep civility between us. Sh*t happens!

 

[bspeth]

Re: Why do some people choose the hard route?

Just keep the paperwork straight on your calendar,thats the route your going so that's all you need to dutta your hands,so accept the judges rule and move on in a positive way.-B

 

[Fun Times]

Re: Why do some people choose the hard route?

I'm thinking the lawyer must be a friend or family member keeping the cost down to $0.00 with hopes of trying to send you a don't mess with me type message to keep the situation at bay. (In this case it's low $) For some, it's a feeling of higher power.

A fifty dollar vet bill is a pretty good price. A grooming at a big chain store could cost more than that.

 

[FlaCowboy]

Re: Why do some people choose the hard route?

It is not about the $50.00...it is about Principals.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Why do some people choose the hard route?

My dog bites your dog. Ok, stuff happens. Then you call the city and have my dog taken away. You then send me certified letter claiming restitution.

Quite neighborly of you. I would be a pain in your backside as well for the general principal