last month I moved my daughter back to Ft Campbell Ky to await her hubbys return from afghanistan.I left my home and car in the care of someone I have known for 10+ years..another provider whom I have previously been able to trust without question.She was supposed to stay at the house take care of the animals and life was good,all things in order.
I returned home Sunday to find that she is not the person she once was and that my home is devastated and the car was stolen wrecked and no longer runs.She had given my keys to the house to someone who promised to take care of the house.
Now the police are telling me there is nothing they can do because he had every legal right to be here because she gave him the keys to my house and car.
My question is ,should I take her to civil court since she is the one who agreed to take care of the house,she has nothing but I could get a judgement that would be worthless.
Advice please?
Thanks
Leigh
Even if you won a civil case, and it would not be a slam dunk, collecting would be very questionable.
Call it tuition in the school of hard knocks and be a lot more choosey about whom you entrust with your valuables in the future.
You should, however, check on your car and homeowners insurance (Hopefully you have same.) Those might be able to bring you some compensation.
Better luck next time.
As always,
(still not a lawyer)
That's what I figured ,unfortunately as long as I have known here I never saw this coming.
The damage is almost cleaned up but im stressed outta my mind..lol
Thanks for the input
Huggz
Leigh
If you have Comprehensive coverage on you auto insurance policy, then you have no worry about the stolen car (subject to deductible out of your own pocket). If you have homeowner policy on you house, theft on contents and vandalization are covered. Make sure you get all police reports in order.
Legal action may not be as useful, the person liable may not have the money anyway.
I have renters insurance but the cop told me they don't do reports for insurance claims so I'm hoping for the best on that front.It's USAA -military insurance for the renters ins and I hear they are pretty good.But the lady wasnt sure because they had keys to the house and did the damage
shes supposed to call me back on Monday.
Keeping my fingers crossed ![]()
Thanks for the response
Huggz
Leigh
I am sorry that this happened to you. The person you gave the keys to had custody of your home & car and had a duty to exercise reasonable care. Passing the keys to someone else, exceeds her authority & makes her liable for damages beyond normal wear & tear that would have occurred had she exercised her responsibility & reasonable care. I think you could get a judgement. I don't believe that possesing the keys gives her the right to further loan your property.
On the other hand, if she has no assets, a judgement does you no good and costs you time & trouble. I think you know that this is now a person who you can not trust in the future... probably no longer a friend at all.
You are very lucky that no one was injured by your car.
Years ago, a buddy & I spent a summer camping in the North woods... had to leave our vehicles at a trail head. He suspected someone had taken gas... lower than he left it. The final straw, he noticed quite a bit of body damage & called the Police. The neighborhood kids had found his hidden keys (I didn't have one so they left me with 4 flat tires) and took his hot Mustang joy riding. Well, they had crashed his car & he was wanted for felony hit & run. We were on the other side of the mountain! That took some explaining. I don't know how he made out with insurance.
I say collect insurance if you can & write off the rest. Change your locks. Check all your doors & windows for security. Be wary... you do not know who was allowed into your house & now knows their way around.
There was once a music festival in our neighborhood... in the following months, a rash of breakins from persons who had previously visited the area & learned their way around.
Thanks
I changed the locks first thing
unfortunately whomever she let in here is now familiar with my dogs and they're big lalas to begin with so they're absolutely no help unless i am here.
she is definitely no longer a friend associate or anything else for that matter though she is still in the phoenix provider community,but I have nothing to say to her or do with her.
That's awful about your friend and his car You're right I am truly thankful that no one was hurt.But it really chaps my behind to have to drive my 34 yr old el camino (not that it's not a fast fun car )with a 5 year old car in the driveway that cant stay running for 2 min at a stretch..Grrrr
I figure Ill run some specials to catch up after the house repairs and the get the car running but this has definitely been a hard lesson learned.
hope you're having a great day
xoxoxo
Huggz
leigh
Good to hear you are cleaning the mess up. Be security aware for the forseeable future. Beyond that, the thing to do is to prioritize and work your way through the repairs. I would say home repairs come first, patching, painting, redecorating. Fortunately you have transportation for now. Have someone check out your car... see what's wrong & if it is worth it to repair. (Almost anything is repairable but not always worth it for a 5 year old car.)
I am particularly careful when I travel. I lock & secure keys to vehicles left in the yard. Fairly often I hear of a break in (or a kids party) where someone finds the keys... I'll take 4 flat tires anyday. Actually, they did not cut my tires... I was able to have them blown back up... thank you AAA!! But they didn't wreck my big block Charger.
I have a deal with the guy next door... we are not really "friends" but if one of us is away, we pick up the mail, take care of each other's pets. Recently his alarm went off & I met the State Trooper at his driveway. I am on the call list for his alarm company... Cop was surprised I had the code to his alarm... I explained our deal & cop determined his dog had got a door open & tripped a motion detector in the Master. I reset the alarm & all was well.
The person you gave the keys to had custody of your home & car and had a duty to exercise reasonable care. Passing the keys to someone else, exceeds her authority & makes her liable for damages beyond normal wear & tear that would have occurred had she exercised her responsibility & reasonable care. I think you could get a judgement. I don't believe that possesing the keys gives her the right to further loan your property.
Go for the judgement on her.. what she did to you was unfair and cruel.. i would never have done that to anyone who would of given me their keys .. no msgs please not vip here
IndianaProvider
Would you have not needed her help if you had not had the dogs?
I am aware of several situations where a person having pets resulted in BIG problems. I understand that once pets "become part of the family" it is difficult to give them to someone else.... however,
some people should not be pet owners.