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I need to know what I can do about this..

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Bethany

Junior Member
What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Michigan

About four months ago, I moved out from living with my fiance. Until very recently (like this morning) we have been on good terms, still seeing each other.

I lived with my fiance for seven years. During that time, I owned a house that we did not live in, it was a vacant rental. Last winter, a water pipe broke and caused extensive water damage. My insurance company cut a large check to cover the damages. But for some reason (probably because I also had purchased auto insurance for both of us) they had him down as a part owner of my homeowners policy and cut the check to me, him, and the bank.

Since he is a contractor, we had decided to have him do the work. The house is quite a long way from the town where we live, so what I didn't realize is that since I moved out, he has done NO work to the house and has simply spent the last draw which was $7000. The bank will not release any further funds until a pre-determined amount of work has been done to the house.

The reason all this has come to light is because I have just recently discovered that he has been stealing money from me; on top of the insurance draw. On top of everything I have lent him because he's very slow right now as far as work. He borrowed my debit card with the permission to use $90. He instead took my card to an ATM and withdrew several hundred dollars. And that's just the tip of the iceberg as far as what I have lent him in past month and a half. He hasn't, of course, paid back anything.

I feel like an idiot, but that's beside the point. Right now, I need to know if I have any legal recourse on the insurance money. His name was on the check. I authorized him to draw the money. I don't have the money to get the repairs up to where they need to be in order to get the next draw.

Can I sue him? Can I sue him also for the money he stole from my bank account, even though I was stupid (trusted him) enough to let him borrow my card?

Please help. This is all very difficult for me right now as I have been betrayed in a relationship as well as possibly ruined financially.
 


HomeGuru

Senior Member
What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Michigan

About four months ago, I moved out from living with my fiance. Until very recently (like this morning) we have been on good terms, still seeing each other.

I lived with my fiance for seven years. During that time, I owned a house that we did not live in, it was a vacant rental. Last winter, a water pipe broke and caused extensive water damage. My insurance company cut a large check to cover the damages. But for some reason (probably because I also had purchased auto insurance for both of us) they had him down as a part owner of my homeowners policy and cut the check to me, him, and the bank.

Since he is a contractor, we had decided to have him do the work. The house is quite a long way from the town where we live, so what I didn't realize is that since I moved out, he has done NO work to the house and has simply spent the last draw which was $7000. The bank will not release any further funds until a pre-determined amount of work has been done to the house.

The reason all this has come to light is because I have just recently discovered that he has been stealing money from me; on top of the insurance draw. On top of everything I have lent him because he's very slow right now as far as work. He borrowed my debit card with the permission to use $90. He instead took my card to an ATM and withdrew several hundred dollars. And that's just the tip of the iceberg as far as what I have lent him in past month and a half. He hasn't, of course, paid back anything.

I feel like an idiot, but that's beside the point. Right now, I need to know if I have any legal recourse on the insurance money. His name was on the check. I authorized him to draw the money. I don't have the money to get the repairs up to where they need to be in order to get the next draw.

Can I sue him? Can I sue him also for the money he stole from my bank account, even though I was stupid (trusted him) enough to let him borrow my card?

Please help. This is all very difficult for me right now as I have been betrayed in a relationship as well as possibly ruined financially.
**A: yes you can sue him.
 

Bethany

Junior Member
But what can I sue him for? What is the legal ramification of his name being on that insurance check? Can I sue him for the money he's borrowed and not paid back? Should I call the police because he stole money from my account? Or, will they laugh me out of the station because I was stupid enough to give him my card?

I really need some legal advice.
 

Rexlan

Senior Member
But what can I sue him for? What is the legal ramification of his name being on that insurance check? Can I sue him for the money he's borrowed and not paid back? Should I call the police because he stole money from my account? Or, will they laugh me out of the station because I was stupid enough to give him my card?

I really need some legal advice.
You can sue him but since he is a bum you will get nothing but another bill even though you win in court. You may get a judgment but you will probably never collect on it unless he has some assets to attach. If he does commercial work as a subcontractor you could lien his performance pay with the judgment. Unfortunately most of these "contractors" are nothing more than a handy man with a $25 license.

You can not claim he has stolen anything because he did not - you gave it all to him. Unless of course you have written documentation to the contrary - probably not.

I would contact a local attorney and see if you can afford a few letters to the X to get started. You can save some money by having your case well outlined and fully documented - including draw slips from the bank, your debit card and so on when you make you first visit to the attorney.
 

HomeGuru

Senior Member
I say chalk up your losses, forget it and move on.
The cost in legal fees and your time exceeds the amount of $$$ that you lost.
 

Zigner

Senior Member, Non-Attorney
*I* say that you should report the insurance fraud that the contractor is committing.
 

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