Small Claims Suit Against Minor

[Evelyne]

Illinois. Suing 17 year old, daughters ex-boyfriend. He has punch numerous holes in my walls. Kicked down the front door twice. Threw bricks through front window. Total estimated damage to date in excess of 47.50 per hour approx. 2000.00.

Front door needs replacing 500.00 Homeowners Insurance deductible.

He was sent to jail for other violations. His mother and my daughter swore that he had changed and would I please loan his Mom 2000.00 - The Mom only repaid 1600.00 - The check clearly states loan. Finally, the kicker. Several months ago, I co-signed for a cell phone for the 17 year old. He did not pay his cell bill for two months. His account was in collections. I had no choice but to pay the 582.00 otherwise, 7 years of collection on record.

With regards to the Mom and Dad. An oral agreement was entered to build a deck on my home. I would pay for materials and the Dad would take care of the labor in exchange for my working with their creditors to reduce 7,000-8,000 in credit card debt and a couple more thousand in outstanding medical/hospital debt. Once the deck was built, the neighbors went to my daughter ( their english is very broken and my daughter understands them better than I ) and said that they wanted 1000.00 for the deck. The Dad had quit his job and they needed income. After many confrontations by the Dad, I had given them 500.00 for the deck, after all he did a nice job. They had kept the 400.00 dollars from their sons bail money as final pa yment for the deck. This was not our contract.

The notes said to be brief, and I am trying, though I guess I don't know how. Question, are the Parents responsible for the damages caused by their son? Secondly, can I recover any punitave damages?

Please help!!

Thanks

 

[I AM ALWAYS LIABLE]

My response:

Oh, brother.

Who took a rubber stamp to your forehead and printed "Sucker" on it ?

Look, sue the parents separately and the boy separately in Small Claims court. Good luck, because you're going to need it. The judge is going to look at you and ask the same question I asked.

IAAL

 

[alax]

why did you put that sign on your back? you know, the one that says "kick me".

 

[Evelyne]

Sucker?? Yep, I guess you are right. I can only laugh at myself - meanwhile, I have an awful lot of damage to my home. And this will probably not make anyone else feel better but me, but the boy is in jail now with a 200,00.00 bond for the damage to property. The cell phone I kind of figured would be a learning experience - ( no shaking of the head, I am doing that myself ).

Since he will have to come to court wearing "house orange" and these were malicious actions, are his parent responsible for puttin my home back in order? I don't want to take a minor to court only to have the judge say I am suing the wrong person. He has no money and no job, not to mention he will be in jail for a long while. Any other recourse?