Small Claims against 17 year old

[yoralph]

My son and three of his friends planed a senior trip to Daytona Beach for June. I was asked to purchase the airline tickets on my credit card. I purchased 4 non refundable tickets in each of the boys' names. One of the boys backed out because his father decided he could not go. This is after he told the other boys that he had his fathers permission. I called his father and I told him that I had purchased a ticket for his son because he said he had "your" approval. The father said that he did not have his approval. I asked him to make good on the ticket. He has refused. He said his son is 17 and I should not have purchased the ticket. I said your son is going to college in a couple of months and I thought his word was good. In addition he is going to be 18 in June. The father feels he and his son have no responsiblity to reimburse me. Can I sue the son in small claims court for the price of the ticket? The ticket is for $284. We live in Maryland. PLEASE do not yell at me for not speaking directly to the father before I purchased the ticket. I learned my lesson! Thanks for your advice. Ralph

 

[Ryan4069]

You can name the father and the son on the small claims case. Im not sure whether you have legal grounds or not because the 17 year is not allowed to enter a contract without his parents. In this case, you would be basing your argument on the verbal "contract" that you would be repaid. Now, im not sure if you would be able to argue that this 17 year old caused you financial loss and therefore the parent is responsible. Let me know what you find out.

 

[I AM ALWAYS LIABLE]

My response:

With the exception of contracts entered into by a minor for "necessities of life" - - e.g., food, shelter, clothing, medical care, a minor can merely "rescind" the contract in open court, and you will be stuck for the value of the ticket.

Case over. You lose.

IAAL