Legal Question in Consumer Law in Virginia

Fraud? Harassment? Breach of contract?

I'll be as brief as I can.

I let a come-to-your-home computer repair company take my printer to their shop on June 17, '06 for repair. This is a franchise, and once before I had to complain to their corp. hdqtrs. to get them to repond to me for after=sale service.

Despite repeated emails & phone calls, and a certified letter, they have not returned my printer.

The printer is no longer the issue, I am so angry over their arrogance that I want to be as aggressive legally as possible to make their lives financially painful. I looked into criminal charges of theft, no dice. On the civil side, I've checked the state statutes, it seems like fraud or breach of contract apply. I Want to zap them as painfully as possible, financially, hoping for a civil settlement on harassment (their broken promises to return my printer)

and fraud and/or breach of contract if possible. Suggestions? Comments? What $$$ settlement should I seek?

Thanks for your help.


Asked on 8/10/06, 7:00 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Michael Hendrickson Law Office Michael E. Hendrickson

Re: Fraud? Harassment? Breach of contract?

You could file a warrant in detinue in the general district court for the return of your property and, in the alternative, if the property cannot be returned for some reason, you could ask that judgment be entered against the scalawag repair company for the fair market value thereof.

As for attempting to pursue a legal strategy that would be properly commensurate( at least in your mind) with the anger that you obviously feel, you can forget it. That's virtually always a mistake for a plaintiff in formulating a strategy and plan for his or her case that has at least some chance for success.

Bottom line: I see no basis for a viable cause of action against this company for fraud nor, probably, even breach of contract(not enough time elapsed), and, no, definitely no civil settlement in the offing for harassment based upon what you've described.

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Answered on 8/10/06, 9:32 pm


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