Good point. Hopefully tracking down mercenary, justice-hungry crime victims is similarly unprofitable.

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So, what if there was a paid-per-case mercenary justice league, able to be hired by victims to track down the perps? It would be better than paying tax dollars to have police generate revenue. Well, better until it turned into an unsubstantiated witch hunt of bounty hunters killing based on rumor, untruth, and suspicion. Ah, justice is just too complex.
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FF31-
It's called civil suit aka suing someone. There's no jail time but you make them pay, regardless of whether they win or lose (have to pay the lawyers!). There's also small claims court, which can be effective.

Oh, and by the way, the name of the thing you're trying to put your finger on: The Mob.

-Zeke

Hmmm.... that's not a bad idea (thinks)

Actually, if you sue someone and they DON'T lose, it means YOU lose. You've spent just as much (or more) on legal fees, time effort, etc. And depending on the circumstances you may also be liable to pay for their legal fees. Only lawyers win in court. If I was being faced with a civil suit I thought was unfounded I'd immediately counter-sue.

Small claims can be useful to keep costs down and in fact even better if settled before it goes to court. Just being served is often enough to get the debtor to come to their senses and pay.

Bruno

Well, that's one way of looking at it. Another way is that you'll enjoy spending your money making the other party suffer the court hassle. It's not a good monetary argument, but it is a useful tool of vengeance. Money's only one way of keeping score.

-Zeke

Yes, but then *you* have to suffer the court hassle, too.

Yes, but if you're vengeful enough to do it, making them suffer may be fun.

-Zeke

Another problem is when something rare (no longer manufactured) gets stolen. In that case, sueing and getting monetary compensation wouldn't make me happy at all. Great now I have some money, but how am I going to replace something that isn't made anymore. If I didn't get the item back in the process, I wouldn't be even content until I was paid at least twice what the item retailed for when it was new, plus some extra for time setting up/installing/loading/hanging/painting/whatever the case may be.

In other words, my deepest sympathies. To me it would be like my cousin was kidnapped.

Was there a happy ending with this??

The car was recovered; most of the bits on eBay were recovered: the blokie was arrested with some parts still up for sale.

The sad part: car was utterly trashed - it had been rolled, and was taken to a yard for police inspection. It was then left open to the elements for several weeks, so that it went mouldy and rusty. It's scrap.

Derek has been busy testing exciting new cars recently, but it hasn't stopped him replacing the car with something special - come to the Owner's meet in September, and you will be Dazzled (literally)

Ha! He's hooked, guys!

Be there or be square...

I can believe it'll be one of those very orange focuses then

Hugo

Well, in that case, I guess I can "undelete" the thread.

Pardon if it's crass to ask, but did Derek get his rightful compensation to purchase said new Dazzler? After all that, I hope they sold the perp's kidney to pay Derek back.