S_D_Columbus
Junior Member
Georgia
A couple of years ago my friend and her church were in need of an electronic keyboard. My parent's church had 2 that they did not need at the time (keyboard and accessories cost $3500.00 when they were new) and since she was practically family offered to loan it to her. Unfortunately her husband decided to "loan" it to someone else without discussing it with his wife, me or anyone from the church which it belonged to. My understanding is that since he did not have permission from anybody to take/use it, let alone give it away, that he assumed responsibility.
Every few months or so she or I would ask him to try to get it back and he would cheerfully agree to get it. It has now been 2 years. I was helping my friend move out (they are now separated) and he was there. Yet again he stated he would get it back (with several witnesses) and apologized for taking so long. I texted him 2 weeks before I would be driving through the town he lives in to give him a chance to get it in time to have me pick it up and again a week before to see if there was any news. There are many excuses why he can't get a hold of the guy. We set a deadline of mid-December to get it back by or we might have to get the court involved. Every week or two I'll send him another text asking if there's any new news (which he may or may not respond to) and more excuses.
Now he is claiming that it was given (not loaned) to both of them (which it wasn't) and that I am harassing and threatening him by asking him about it. I have kept all of our correspondence since we started texting and we have never spoken over the phone. I hate having to go the legal route, but at this point I think it's time for him to take responsibility and I really am not interested on making it easier for him than I already have. What would be the best course of action? Do I need to get the church it belongs to involved or can I take care of it myself (which I would prefer to avoid extra drama if possible)? Is it simply small claims issue or can we call it theft? He lives in one city the church in another, I had to move to a third City and his wife has since moved to Utah so where should we file it?
Thanks for your help
A couple of years ago my friend and her church were in need of an electronic keyboard. My parent's church had 2 that they did not need at the time (keyboard and accessories cost $3500.00 when they were new) and since she was practically family offered to loan it to her. Unfortunately her husband decided to "loan" it to someone else without discussing it with his wife, me or anyone from the church which it belonged to. My understanding is that since he did not have permission from anybody to take/use it, let alone give it away, that he assumed responsibility.
Every few months or so she or I would ask him to try to get it back and he would cheerfully agree to get it. It has now been 2 years. I was helping my friend move out (they are now separated) and he was there. Yet again he stated he would get it back (with several witnesses) and apologized for taking so long. I texted him 2 weeks before I would be driving through the town he lives in to give him a chance to get it in time to have me pick it up and again a week before to see if there was any news. There are many excuses why he can't get a hold of the guy. We set a deadline of mid-December to get it back by or we might have to get the court involved. Every week or two I'll send him another text asking if there's any new news (which he may or may not respond to) and more excuses.
Now he is claiming that it was given (not loaned) to both of them (which it wasn't) and that I am harassing and threatening him by asking him about it. I have kept all of our correspondence since we started texting and we have never spoken over the phone. I hate having to go the legal route, but at this point I think it's time for him to take responsibility and I really am not interested on making it easier for him than I already have. What would be the best course of action? Do I need to get the church it belongs to involved or can I take care of it myself (which I would prefer to avoid extra drama if possible)? Is it simply small claims issue or can we call it theft? He lives in one city the church in another, I had to move to a third City and his wife has since moved to Utah so where should we file it?
Thanks for your help
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