Farmall Cub

I sold 3 sheep the other day, and the guy seemed like a decent person. He offered to move some more to his property because I had too many. So I let him take 3 more to his place. Well, mine got sheared last weekend and the guy who shears them is going to be in his area this weekend so I called him to let him know that he could have his done this weekend. Well he said Wayne the guy that came over with him bought them. He said they kept escaping and that they got moved to Baker Farm in Swansea Mass. It seemed like he was lying so I called his friend Wayne. Wayne said that mine got killed by coyotes and that he slaughtered the others. It turns out Baker Farm is a slaughter farm and that all of them got slaughtered for money and meat. I didn't get a bill of sale and don't know what to do? How to do I press charges for something that I never owned on paper?

Chris

Chris,

I think you'll just have to chalk this one up to education and experience.

Although they probably won't be able to do anything, I'd let local law enforcement know about the incident. You may not be the first. Also, I wouldn't hesitate to inform everyone who may come in contact with these two, just exactly what happened.

I doubt you can do anything legally.

Was anyone there with you as a witness? If so you can let him know you intend to take him to small claims court you can do it even if you don't have a witness. In Mass it is inexpensive to take somene to small claims file a police report 1st.

Joe,
I do have a witness and I just might. The sheep were Hampshires and they are meat sheep and I wanted to put them in the freezer at some point. Not their freezer or wallets. Those sheep get to be pretty big. Once again my trust in people is fading...except out here where I've come across some very decent people! CW

sorry tohear about that "good deal" gone bad...

Sadly, seems to be the ways anymore.... A mans handshake isnt worth what it used to be in certain areas. Its amazing around here when i finish a deal, have a good conversation or what have you, when i offer my hand out, the odd look I get..... Sometimes i think " they are just city people"

Chuckwheat Farm wrote:mine got killed by coyotes and that he slaughtered the others.

It's pretty darn ironic that the coyotes were so selective that they only killed "your" sheep.

Chris,

There is a principle involved here. My opinion. You should avail yourself of every avenue for redress. First make the police report with the witness statement included.

Then go to small claims court. Even if you lose you'll make good of upholding the principle.

You might check out what the Biblical Law says about stealing livestock. Might even include that in the complaint to the court.

I know it might take some time and even some money, but if everyone just looks the other way it will only encourage the bad behavior. You can do society a big service by stopping this guy.

Once when I was adjusting Aircraft Claims a insured sued me for the loss of his aircraft. He was flying it illegally without even the proper pilot's license or aircraft annual inspection when it crashed. Turned out it had not been flown or inspected in more than 10 years. Rather than fight it through the court system the insurance company paid it off even though they had only bound coverage the day of the flight and a policy was never issued. After he received payment he sued me for loss of his aircraft because the guy I hired to retrieve it from the grove of trees cut one wing off with a chain saw. (the other wing was torn off in the crash.) My attorney advised me to settle with him rather than fight it. I refused and went to court without representation. The judge threw it out when he saw the evidence, but it did cost me a bit of time and three trips to Michigan for the proceedings.

I think this country should go with the european and canadian way of legal redress. If someone sues and looses they must pay the defendant's legal fees. It would stop these stupid suits. Now I can get down off my soapbox.

You're case is not a frivolous one so I'd say go for it.

Well Flyawa,
I did put a call into the Town of Swansea's Animal Control Division and let them know what happened. I mentioned that
all livestock in my town must have secure fencing and be safe against coyotes. His property isn't and I doubt he'll be allowed to have livestock there in the future. So that's a start. Thanks for the input. Next step is small claims court and even if I lose, he'll have to go to court to defend himself. If he doesn't show up, I win automatically. I might have won already if he's not allowed to keep animals on his fields. His fields have rocks popping up everywhere and not easily mowed. CW

Good luck! Let us know how it goes.

Just the other day a neighbor brought his push mower over and asked if i could take a look at it. It was knocking real bad..... and he knows I tinker and rebuild things all the time.....

as I slowly try to remove the spark plug for a compression check, it felt too tight, so i told him the threads might be stripped and i dont want to go any further..... he took the ratchet from my hand and finished taking the plug out of its stripped out threads. It was a bad scene..... a long reach spark plug threads just filled with the aluminum from the cylinder head.....

I said, well, nothing can be done... I dont have a tap that size..... and they he got mad at ME....... and said "Thanks for helping me break my mower" as he walked away....

somehow, it was my fault.....

W/be interesting to see how you come out Chris! I used small claims only once but it was a pretty straightforward deal! After the first go'round the other party settled before it went back for the final! Good luck!

Nothing worse than a thief..... I would think it's worth the legal effort, lots of good info online.

Karma! Stuff seems to work out in the end.

File a small claims on him. He'll have to answer what he did in front of a judge. It should cost you less than $100 to file, and you don't have to have an attorney. It'll get him to court though.

tuition

take it to judge judy, she'll tear him a new one