Legal Question in Business Law in New York

I thought I was selling my car to a junkyard, but it turned out the guy sold my car to someone else for significantly more money than he gave me. I signed and gave the junkyard the title, but it wasn't signed by my husband or notarized (b/c we thought they were going to demolish it). Was it legal for them to sell it? The new owner is contacting me to get a duplicate title so he can register the car legally. Am I obligated to help him?


Asked on 1/15/15, 12:57 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys

Frank Natoli Natoli-Legal, LLC

You cannot take my answers as conclusive, but whoever bought the car from you is lawfully permitted to do whatever they want with it provided it is legal to do so. They are also free to lie to you if they want and unless you have committed them in a signed writing where you might have a breach of contract claim then I see nothing illegal about what happened here.

Now regards to the title, you are not obligated to take any action whatsoever. You do not even have to respond. The yard that sold the car to this new owner I assume sold it with a salvage title and if there is no way for them to make use of it they either eat that or if they were duped by the seller maybe have a claim against them. In fact, I would be concerned that if you get involved with the new owner in any way that may expose you somehow.

Just my opinion here.

All the best,

Frank

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Answered on 1/15/15, 1:07 pm


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