Legal Question in Civil Litigation in Florida
I purchased a computer for a guy i was seeing at the time, with understanding he would pay me back within a year. He said he needed it to get this new, better paying job so i bought it on my credit card, and shipped it to him in FL. I live in CT. He lost the job he said he needed the laptop for 6 months later, our relationship also around the same time. I started to contact asking for payment or the laptop back as he had yet to pay anything and being jobless he didnt have the extra money. Its now been over a year that i purchased it, he wont reply to any of my attempts to talk about the computer. I was told he is homeless living in his car in a grocery store parking lot and uses the computer constantly. I understand its a civil matter, but cant i report it stolen? Would i report it in CT or FL where the computer is as well as him? I thought i could report it stolen, go to FL and ask him for it and if he wont give it i could call the police and they would confiscate it. Can i do that? I gave specific time frame for when i wanted it paid off. When he lost his job i reminded him he had 6 more months to pay or make arrangements with me, or i would forgive all he owed if he just gave it back. He has never replied back. I would rather not do the civil suit route as i live in a different state and that process could take a while. I have the receipt and serial number of laptp why cant i just report it stolen and have police take it from him? Help!!!
2 Answers from Attorneys
Hi. You can't report it stolen, because it's not stolen. You purchased it for him and gave it to him. Now he owes you money. As you stated above, this is a civil matter. The police don't get involved in civil matters. If you can't otherwise get him to agree to pay you back, your only other remedy will be to sue in small claims court in Florida.
You want to sue a homeless man who lives in his car in a grocery store parking lot? He does not sound collectable. You want to "go to Florida" from Connecticut, to ask him to give it back? It's obvious that he would refuse. You could hire a lawyer to sue him, but it's very unlikely that this 2 year old computer is worth your time and expense.
Related Questions & Answers
Looking for something else?
10,200 active attorneys ready to answer your legal questions today.
Featured Attorneys
Earn additional revenue and grow your business.
