Legal Question in Credit and Debt Law in Maryland
refund of services purchased through an internet service
I contracted for grant writing services through an internet site. After having accepted my 50% payment, the grant writer failed to provide me with anything. She agreed through correspondence, which all took place through the internet site, that she had failed to provide me with the services I paid for and would refund my money. All of the correspondence remains posted on the internet site. I am yet to receive my refund. She is in Maryland, I am in Nevada. What recourse do I have? Can I sue through small claims court ($500.) in Nevada since she purports to do business world wide? I'll be looking forward to your reply.
2 Answers from Attorneys
Re: refund of services purchased through an internet service
I am a Maryland attorney and not a Nevada attorney. Substantive law varies state to state.
Maryland has what is referred to as a "long arm statute" which would avail you of small claims jurisdiction if you were a Maryland resident and the seller lived in another state.
The basis for jurisdiction is that the seller sumbits itself to jurisdiction based on the contact it intended in the forum of the state (i.e., the seller reached into the buyer's jurisdiction).
Getting a judgment, however, is one thing; executing it, if necessary, is an entirely different matter. Your question should be posted to attorneys licensed in Nevada unless you want to file suit and appear in Maryland.
Re: refund of services purchased through an internet service
It is more important that the person or company claim to do business in Nevada if you want to sue them there, rather than Maryland. But you should have jurisdiction over the company in Nevada simply because their misrepresentation to you occurred there. I can not advise on that because that is Nevada law.