A month or so ago, Pat was standing in line at the gas station down the block. The folks in line ahead of him were going "whoa, whoa whoa! Someone just hit that white car!" Pat looked outside, and it was HIS white car (our '98 RAV4) that had been hit - by a young woman backing out of a parking spot. She was very apologetic; and it turned out that she had neither car insurance nor a driver's license.
Pat recognized her name; turns out her grandmother used to clean for them when Pat was younger. The young woman suggested that perhaps she could pay a little bit at a time, and we mailed her some estimates. Subsequent phone calls: nothing. We found out that she has four children, and lives with her fiance'.
Today we finally wrapped up the business of filing in small claims court. Eventually, if this person tries to get a credit card, has a job, or tries to apply for a loan, it will catch up with her. In the meantime we eat the cost of the repair and the filing fee, and in reality - we may never get it back. If the woman doesn't work, receives public assistance or food stamps - there's not a thing that we can do. But if, within 10 years, she works or tries to get a loan, it can be garnished.
What a pain! I feel badly for the young woman, but at the same time, we have to take good care of our cars; as we need our Toyotas to last, basically, forever!
An vell.
School this AM - the carpenters have my SMARTBOARD installed and made my shelves for paper storage. Spent the afternoon on portfolio reviews and planting outside; including a bit of woodchuck observation...
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