Long story short, I bought a used car from a private seller, paying a significant amount that I had saved up. I took my mechanic friend (MF) along to help, though he wasn’t formally assisting. The seller lied (we have proof of this) and assured us the car had never been in an accident. MF wasn’t feeling well that day and didn’t check the car thoroughly but the issues weren’t visible unless you knew the cars history. We both agreed the car seemed fine. I purchased it.
When I tried to register the car in my name, I discovered I couldn’t as it had been written off in a severe accident. According to the law, the seller is required to declare this in writing before the sale, so they were in the wrong. However, the seller refuses to take the car back, and I’m now suing them in small claims court. To make matters worse, the seller is trying to shift responsibility onto MF adding him to the lawsuit. They claim that because he’s a mechanic, he should’ve known the car had been written off. Now I’m forced to be suing him as well (because the car sellers lawyer has joined him to the lawsuit).
The case is dragging on, and I’ve had to spend money on legal fees, as the other side has a lawyer, so I’ve had to hire one too.
I offered to help MF by suggesting affordable lawyers and advising him on how to save costs. I sent him stuff to read. I even offered to assist him in writing his defence if he couldn’t afford a lawyer (as I don’t think the seller has a case against him and it’s normal to represent yourself in this small claims court) However MF acted superior and sneered at me- said I didn’t know what I was talking about. He ignored all my advice, didn’t check the lawyer’s fees, and hired the first one he met with, despite my warnings. The lawyer didn’t disclose his rates but promised it would cost less than $1,000. Now he has a $2,000 bill, mainly because he didn’t really understand the case (didn’t listen to me) and the lawyer has messed up his paperwork multiple times.
MF is hinting at me constantly that I should pay his lawyer’s fees. While I understand it’s a tough situation for both of us, I’ve been managing my own legal costs, which are much higher than his, and have done much of the work myself to save money. He can go after the car seller for his costs when we win. I’ve tried to help him throughout the process, but he rejected all my offers, didn’t follow my advice, and now expects me to cover his costs.
AITA for saying no?
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Long story short, I bought a used car from a private seller, paying a significant amount that I had saved up. I took my mechanic friend (MF) along to help, though he wasn’t formally assisting. The seller lied (we have proof of this) and assured us the car had never been in an accident. MF wasn’t feeling well that day and didn’t check the car thoroughly but the issues weren’t visible unless you knew the cars history. We both agreed the car seemed fine. I purchased it.
When I tried to register the car in my name, I discovered I couldn’t as it had been written off in a severe accident. According to the law, the seller is required to declare this in writing before the sale, so they were in the wrong. However, the seller refuses to take the car back, and I’m now suing them in small claims court. To make matters worse, the seller is trying to shift responsibility onto MF adding him to the lawsuit. They claim that because he’s a mechanic, he should’ve known the car had been written off. Now I’m forced to be suing him as well.
The case is dragging on, and I’ve had to spend money on legal fees, as the other side has a lawyer, so I’ve had to hire one too.
I offered to help MF by suggesting affordable lawyers and advising him on how to save costs. I sent him stuff to read. I even offered to assist him in writing his defence if he couldn’t afford a lawyer (as I don’t think the seller has a case against him and it’s normal to represent yourself in this small claims court) However MF acted superior and sneered at me- said I didn’t know what I was talking about. He ignored all my advice, didn’t check the lawyer’s fees, and hired the first one he met with, despite my warnings. The lawyer didn’t disclose his rates but promised it would cost less than $1,000. Now he has a $2,000 bill, mainly because he didn’t really understand the case (didn’t listen to me) and the lawyer has messed up his paperwork multiple times.
MF is hinting at me constantly that I should pay his lawyer’s fees. While I understand it’s a tough situation for both of us, I’ve been managing my own legal costs, which are much higher than his, and have done much of the work myself to save money. He can go after the car seller for his costs when we win. I’ve tried to help him throughout the process, but he rejected all my offers, didn’t follow my advice, and now expects me to cover his costs.
AITA for saying no?
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OP has offered the following explanation for why they think they might be the asshole:
> I refused to pay for my friends lawyer fees. He called me an arsehole because he is only involved in the lawsuit because of me (I didn’t sue him but he got added to my lawsuit against someone else, by the other side) and he can’t afford it. I think I shouldn’t have to pay because he didn’t listen to my advice about how to find a reasonable lawyer or reduce his costs.
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Contest mode is 1.5 hours long on this post.
YTA. Its your fault your mechanic friend is in this position in the first place. You were responsible to make sure the car was acceptable, and obviously didn’t check the carfax (if in US) and now your friend is in this position for basically just being there and trying to do you a favor, although in your words they didn’t really do much. Also, your friend cant just get their money back from seller. Small claims court doesn’t exactly work like that. I work in family law although not the same as small claims I still know quite a bit about small claims. Let’s just pretend that your mechanic friend did get a judgment against the other person. If that other person receives any type of state aid like Medicaid or food stamps, guess what? Your friends not getting a dime from them. Also if the other person decides to file bankruptcy guess what? Your friend’s not getting a penny from them. It’s not as easy to get money from a small claims case as you think it is.
NTA. Your friend decided to hire counsel, not you, and you even tried to talk him out of it. He needs to lay in the bed that he made.
Sorry you’re having to go through this. I might be missing some details, but it seems like a straight forward case that you should win. It is a little odd that attorneys are involved at all in a small claims case though. Attorneys are prohibited from representing either party in my state entirely.
NTA.
He chose to hire a lawyer, he’s responsible for the costs. It sounds like you’ve tried to set him up with multiple cheaper options, but he’s chosen to reject them. You could potentially offer to cover a part of the bill as a favor, but you certainly shouldn’t feel obligated to pay all of it.
It really sounds like the seller is just trying to throw anything he can at the wall in hopes that he drowns you guys in lawyers fees and you just give up, which is an unfortunate situation to be in because there often isn’t a good remedy in small claims court for that type of stuff.
NTA, and drop your mechanic friend. He sounds to be both incompetent and an idiot.
You are suing your MF. He failed you. Don’t pay his legal fees. By suing him you are probably moving him out of both mechanic and friend roles in your life.
YTA for suing your friend
Based on your post there is no reason for you to be suing your mechanic friend. You were not “forced to” and from your description the only reason you did was because opponent’s council told you too which is the height of stupididity on your part.
Info. Why don’t you include legal fees in the suit?
NTA
YTA. How did you not check the Carfax? This whole story doesn’t add up.
no if he’s being an ass and ignored your help and now wants money , they don’t sound like a friend you need to keep hold of