I'm being sued

[gashog01]

I'm being sued by an uncle in law who was living in my house with his mother (my grand mother in law) when my wife and I bought it from her. He left a bunch of personal belongings behind including a safe full of guns, some tools, an 8N tractor with a bunch of attachments and an old camper. He would show up, unannounced and expect me to drop everything to help him retrieve his stuff from the basement...back yard...attic etc.and load it for him. (he's in his seventies now, with a bum ticker). I did that for him for about 9 months. Finally, I told my inlaws that he should get whatever he was going to get and gave them a date. I was specifically referring to the camper and tractor/implements but there was also a wood lathe and an old drill press in the basement still. I arranged for an equipment hauler (my mother in law reimbursed me) to move his tractor and implements but no one would move the camper. It was a wooden 1950s Caravan with no wheels that was so rotted that, to move it without ripping it to pieces would have been impossible. He used it as some kind of hunting lodge in the back yard. The driver who picked up the farm equipment told me that it would make a good chicken coop.

Anyway, Long story short, I junked the Caravan (my expense) and told my inlaws that everything that was still in the house or on the property was mine. It's been 4 years since we moved in and I was served yesterday.

WTF? I'm pretty well liked in this town. I've lived here since I was 7 years old. He is NOT....which I found out when I had to get building permits. I had to go in and talk to the building inspectors and town supervisor and assure them that my uncle in law had nothing to do with the property any more.

He's suing me for 3 grand. What do I do? This is a joke right? The Judge isn't going to let him drag me over the coals right?

[justalayman]

well, since you removed the question that asked you to post your state, there is little anyone can tell you that is dependable. Each state has different laws regarding how and when you can claim or dispose of abandoned property.

so:

He's suing me for 3 grand. What do I do?

respond to the suit or have a default judgment against you

This is a joke right?

I would hope not. The courts do not like to be used like that.

The Judge isn't going to let him drag me over the coals right?

well, if we had a state, I might have been able to give you some real advice but...

[gashog01]

Right...FNG makes the first bloop.
Sorry...I'm in NY.