Can I change the amount of a bill if I have to sue?

[working-poor]

You are stuck with only recovering the materials you had to pay for.

And I'm ok with that. I only wanted to collect the extra to punish him for forcing it to go to court. Thanks for the response and info.

 

[Taxing Matters]

And I'm ok with that. I only wanted to collect the extra to punish him for forcing it to go to court. Thanks for the response and info.

The law does not grant you extra because you have to drag the defendant to court. The defendant has the right to contest your claim in court and ought not be punished for exercising that right. By the same token, you have the right to pursue a judgment against him for your claim in court and ought not be punished for exercising that right if you lose the case. If you win, though, certain costs will be awarded to you, like the court filing fee and fee for service of the summons and complaint. You just don’t get compensated for your time.

 

[PayrollHRGuy]

You should realize that is not too late for the state to press charges in the matter. This threat of this may motivate your neighbor.

 

[working-poor]

You should realize that is not too late for the state to press charges in the matter. This threat of this may motivate your neighbor.

I've thought of that. Many times. The sheriff told us we could press charges, and we weighed heavily on that but opted not to. I've prepared a letter I will be sending him certified mail tomorrow reminding him we were kind enough not to press charges and to pay up soon or that may change.

 

[working-poor]

The law does not grant you extra because you have to drag the defendant to court. The defendant has the right to contest your claim in court and ought not be punished for exercising that right. By the same token, you have the right to pursue a judgment against him for your claim in court and ought not be punished for exercising that right if you lose the case. If you win, though, certain costs will be awarded to you, like the court filing fee and fee for service of the summons and complaint. You just don’t get compensated for your time.

Like I said, I'm ok with that. I really only want what I put out of pocket. I'm just tired of waiting for it. I was brought up differently I guess. If i had done it, the people wouldn't even have to bill me, I would have my checkbook out the day it happened.

 

[Zigner]

My argument to that would be, if I hired a contractor to do the work and he charged me $300 for labor, that would be an actual cost, so why wouldn't my labor be an actual cost as well?

Because you didn't hire a contractor.

 

[quincy]

Like I said, I'm ok with that. I really only want what I put out of pocket. I'm just tired of waiting for it. I was brought up differently I guess. If i had done it, the people wouldn't even have to bill me, I would have my checkbook out the day it happened.

You were raised right.

I hope your neighbor gives you what he owes you upon receipt of your letter so you do not have to take him to court.

Good luck.

 

[working-poor]

You were raised right.

I hope your neighbor gives you what he owes you upon receipt of your letter so you do not have to take him to court.

Good luck.

Thank you, and thank you for the advice.

 

[quincy]

Thank you, and thank you for the advice.

We all appreciate the thanks, working-poor, so thanks for that. Good luck.

 

[LdiJ]

... which, seeing as how he might find it difficult to collect on any judgment awarded him anyway, was probably a smart choice.

Odds are that he might have a little bit easer of a job than most, considering that he knows exactly where his neighbor's property is located and what's available to have liens placed against it.

I have seen people have pretty good luck with putting liens on people's cars. Particularly cars that are already paid off. When the person sells the car thinking that there is no lien, and the buyer can't title it because there is a lien, things often get resolved quite quickly.

 

[quincy]

Odds are that he might have a little bit easer of a job than most, considering that he knows exactly where his neighbor's property is located and what's available to have liens placed against it.

I have seen people have pretty good luck with putting liens on people's cars. Particularly cars that are already paid off. When the person sells the car thinking that there is no lien, and the buyer can't title it because there is a lien, things often get resolved quite quickly.

Possibly.

It would be nice if working-poor does not have to go to that trouble, though.

 

[working-poor]

Well it's all for naught. He paid up in full. Thank you to everyone for your advice and thoughts.

 

[quincy]

Well it's all for naught. He paid up in full. Thank you to everyone for your advice and thoughts.

That is good news.

Thanks for the update, working-poor.

 

[working-poor]

That is good news.

Thanks for the update, working-poor.

You're welcome! 👍