Legal Question in Civil Litigation in Oregon

My elderly father bailed out a friend in Oregon. He has been told his money won't be refunded even after his friend's appearance in court!?

Court officials have told him even though his friend appeared in court the bail money will be applied to costs and fines. Is this legal? It seems like fraud.

He had a verbal assurance from an employee of the jail that the money would be returned if his friend showed for trial. No contract was signed, the only paperwork he received was a receipt from the 'bail machine' he put his credit card into. When he showed the receipt after trial and asked to be reimbursed the court secretary said "sorry, we don't do that, usually the bail money is applied to any costs or fines, you'll have to get a lawyer".

We have no money for legal help and paying the credit card off will be a major hardship on his fixed income. Is there a form to request the refund?


Asked on 2/07/11, 6:21 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Daniel Meek Daniel W. Meek

This is not unusual. You were probably required to sign a release paper that stated that the bail money could be used for those purposes. Maybe it is on your bail receipt. Maybe it is printed on the bail machine.

You can certainly ask for a refund. Send a letter to the chief judge of the county court.

Read more
Answered on 2/08/11, 5:22 am


Related Questions & Answers

More General Civil Litigation questions and answers in Oregon