I could use some advise/suggestions

What is the name of your state? PA
Hi, I'm new to this forum. My spouse and I have a problem...we've been sued...by my spouse's father. We don't have very much to do with him, for reasons that may be obvious. Her father is in prison. He's a raher immoral person, which is one reason we don't deal very much with him. In 1994, while in prison, he offered my spouse a 1960's era pinball machine. It's in poor condition and I'm not even sure if it works. My wife remembered it, from when she was a kid and thought it would be nice to have. Receiving it, it became apparent that it would need a lot of work to be usable and even more to be something we'd consider displaying, in our home. Fast forward to late 2002. Her father now wants it back; and now states: "I was just giving it to you to store for me". We've got a small 2 bedroom rancher and have little storage space for our own stuff. My opinion was pretty much; I don't care about the thing, but I'll support my wife in whatever she wants to do. Yesterday, a sheriff came to our door and served both of us. He's sueing us for the pinball machine and all his legal fees. I'd still give it to him, but now our good name is being crapped on and I think it's obscene to have to pay for this..."gentleman's" legal fees. Any advise

[VeronicaGia]

This is a civil motion. Give the thing back with a letter, signed by him, that you owe him nothing else and you have returned the machine to him. Or countersue him for storage fees of $50.00/month since you've had the thing.

He sounds like a real winner. You should contact an attorney, because even though he's suing you, he may in effect have not suit, since you've had the property for almost ten years. It would be worth a few phone calls. But whatever you do, if you give the machine back to him, make sure you have witnesses who are neutral on the situation.

[djohnson]

I agree, I don't think he stands much of a chance. I would take the advise of countersueing him for the storage fees if that is what he is claiming and you have no proof of the gift. Also, what ever money you put into it to get it functioning. I would think after this long a period of time it would be considered abandoned anyway. What a creep this guy is.

[djohnson]

As a side note, what did he do with his other stuff while incarcerated? Where was it stored and why would this be any different? Those answers may help your case of a gift.

I agree, adn would include cost of repairs and such... that is if you still have any reciepts from fixing the machine up..

but clearly make it an issue that it is in far better shape on return than it was when you got it 10 years ago.

Be certain to have a wittness when returning it, seems he is out for blood...