What can I do about an auto mechanic who cannot fix my car but has had it for over 1 1/2 years and will not return it?
Get Legal Help Today
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
What can I do about an auto mechanic who cannot fix my car but has had it for over 1 1/2 years and will not return it?
He took my Delorean. I had verbal agreement with him that after he fixed the car he fix my car, I would pay him cash for his labor and all parts. Now I believe that he damaged the engine and that is the reason that he still is holding my car and continues to lie that he will call me when car is ready. I’m looking for the lawyer to sue him for the damage to my car and for illegally holding it.
Asked on July 7, 2015 under Business Law, Arizona
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 8 years ago | Contributor
You evidently know what to do: sue him for a court order seeking the return of the car and/or compensation for its damage or (if unrecoverable) its full value. You are unlikely to find an attorney to take this case on a contingency (only get paid if you get paid) basis, because it will not pay enough: even if the car was a total loss, it appears that the blue book values for DeLoreans even in mint shape are $30k or less, which means that this case might be worth $15k or less (since it's not likely that under these circumstances you'd get the car's full value). Contingency fees are usually 20% to 33%, so the lawyer might make $3k - $5k after months of work *if* you win. Most lawyers will not take a contingency case, which involves a risk of not being paid (since you can't every count 100% on winning) and delays in payment, unless they offer significantly more earning potential than that. You could certanly hire a lawyer on an hourly rate to work on your case, or you could act as your own attorney ("pro se").
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.