Legal Question in Civil Litigation in Washington

Re: Sale of a vehicle

Thank you for clarifying that this is a washington Problem, as I'm not licensed in OR and the original message seemed to indicate it was asking for an answer based on OR law.

Okay - in Washington, here is your short answer:

As long as you were clear when you sold him the car that 1. you are not a dealer (merchant in the ordinary course of usiness) and that 2. The title showed that the car had been totalled when you sold him the car AND you transferred the title promptly, then you should be okay.

When ever people threaten that their atty is going to call you it is your first clue that they don't have an atty.

If my clients did that I would fire them. Good lawyers are very cagy about contacting opposing parties - there are rules about that! So, I would expect that if you were to receive communication from a lawyer it would be a letter, not a threatening phone call.

Possibly a summons and complaint - if that happens, you want to consider lawyering up. This is NOT advice to you to do this yourself. What I'm saying is that if you were clear with him that the price you offered was based upon the condition of the car - and he agreed to pay that KNOWING the car had been in some kind of accident - then he cannot sue you pursuant to the CPA for example, as you are not a merchant.

So, don't stress over cranky phone messages. (You can transcribe and save them if you are truly concerned that you need a protection order)

But otherwise? Eh. the concept is called "Benefit of the Bargain". He got what he paid for and knew what that encompassed.

You are probably fine, based on what you said here.

Good luck. Powell