Debt recovery

[bravesirrichard]

State: Washington state

This is a very rough timeline of the case:

Circa spring 2004
I purchased a diamond and had a local jeweller set it into a ring along with two supporting diamonds.

Circa summer 2004
It turned out that I did not need the ring after all and I asked the jeweller to sell the item on consignment.

Circa spring 2005
After waiting around for approximately nine months, the jeweller informed me that he had sold the item and that he would get the full amount to me in the form of a banker's draft or equivalent.

Summer 2005 to summer 2006
I played phone tag for about a year with the jeweller and I still haven't received my money. I have not yet taken legal advice as I hoped to resolve the situation amicably. However, it has been over a year now.

July 2006
I got in contact with an independent mediation service on advice of the web site of my local county's district court. They have written a letter to the jeweller describing the situation and making it clear that I would like to resolve this issue amicably but without any further delay. The jeweller has stopped answering my telephone calls.

My question is this: If he refuses to deal with me through the mediation service and I have to resort to hiring an attorney to sue him to get my money back, what is the level of proof required for me to win the case? What other advice can you offer on how to proceed with a case of this nature?

Thank you in advance, Richard.

P. S. Please advise if there is a better forum or thread for this issue. Thanks.