Guy dings my car then threatens to sue me...

[Nessal]

Originally Posted by REEFBLUE93

Do you and this ass clown work for the same manager/supervisor? I would go to the supervisor I report directly to and inform them of what's happened. Know exactly what you're going to say and present it in a professional manner, you very well may get somewhere with this approach.

He works in a different department. I talked to one of my co-worker via email and she told me if it's a cheap fix(which it is not) to just let it go. She said it's not worth the hassle creating "bad blood".

If he left a note and was honest about it, I wouldn't mind splitting the cost for bad luck sakes. Anyways, I'm going to see the video tomorrow so that this guy can't wiggle out. But I have a feeling that it's not going to play to my advantage. It's funny because him saying that he would sue me is pretty much already admitting to the fact that he knew it happened. So there is no use in denying it. This guy can't keep his story straight.

[Supercamaro64]

some people are just so stupid its funny. i hope you get the bastard to pay!!

[REEFBLUE93]

I would go to his supervisor. If it created bad blood between you and him, or anyone else, then good riddance to those shit birds too. You just weeded out a bunch of useless assholes who would want their brand new car fixed. I manage 10 guys in my dept where I work. If someone from another dept came to me and told me they had something like you described happen to them, we would be sitting in a room behind a closed door talking about keeping this in house so no jobs are at stake and things remain business as usual. I manage some pretty damn mature guys so it probably wouldn't even get as far as it has in your case. Good luck though.

[My 5th]

Last week I parked next to a co-worker's Mazda 3 and the wind was blowing about 40-50 mph, caught my door and slammed it into the side of "his" car. Made a pretty good ding in the side and left a black smudge. I got my Scratch X out and buffed out the black, but the dent was pretty deep. It just chipped the paint on the edge of my door--no biggie (for me).

So I call the guy and tell him what happened and he just laughed it off, and said "Don't worry about it." So I think I've done the right thing and go on with life. Four days later I find out it wasn't HIS car, but another employee that has one just like it, and it was HER car I dinged up. So now I have a whole nuther 'splainin to do. I told her to let me know how much to fix it and I'll pay her.

So far, she hasn't given me a bill, but at least I was up front about it. When I told her she said "My husband asked where I got that dent, and I said I don't know how it happened" She had to go almost a week before she knew the truth.

[DroptopZ]

Originally Posted by TOMS1SS

People who throw the "I'll sue you" line out there have no idea what court fees and lawyers fees are.

THIS. No self-respecting lawyer is going to touch a case for $300 property damage because they'll get NOTHING out of it. Bigger fish to fry. He could take you to small claims, but I'm pretty sure he'd have a hard time explaining to the judge how the middle of your door magically 'opened' into his door-edge.

Hope the footage is good, but if not you've still got a lot to hang your hat on. Post pics of your car and his if you can so we can take a look. Check the laws in your state for tape-recording (in some states, for it to be legal only one party to the recording needs to know) and see if you can confront him... but only if it gets really ugly. If you put the heat on, he gets mad, threatens and fesses up, etc, you've got it on recording. Most recorders are pretty cheap--and then you've got him. Just a thought, and don't do that without checking laws in your state. Try to get measurements of the damage to your car and, if you can't find the mark on his door, find a dealer or a friend with the same year/make/model. Have them open the door, see if it lines up. Document with tape-measure, photos, etc.

PS: my usual disclaimer when I give friendly advice. I'm not a lawyer, nor do I have a degree to practice law. I do handle liability disputes and property damage, so whatever info I have at my disposal is gratuitously given.

[Jason7]

Originally Posted by Nessal

The police won't even touch this. It's on a private lot. Also in the past, I called the police because someone hit my father's car on the b-pillar causing the driver's side door to get jammed. It was atleast 2k in damage easy. The police told me to file a report online and that was it. They didn't even want to come out to see it in person. Can't expect much from a broken state.

All agencies are different all you can do is try, even a phone report or an online report will provide a case number. That's all you really need...

Jason

[JeffInDFW]

I'm guessing that asshole is threatening to sue for defamation. I'll bet he is a sales guy. Am I right?

Unfortunately, few people are car nuts. Most people think people like us a petty jerks for making a big deal out of something like this. In my old job, people would pull so far forward, they would bump noses into each other all down the line! There are usually 3-4 real cars guys on each workplace. Your best bet is to seek them out. Then, you guys can all find one area of the lot to park together. Thats what I've always tried to do.

I'm really sorry this happened. With him being such as a-hole, you won't get any help from the cops and I doubt anyone on the job will help. My advice is to quietly find where he lives........But, I'm vindictive.

[DroptopZ]

Originally Posted by JeffInDFW

I'm guessing that asshole is threatening to sue for defamation. I'll bet he is a sales guy. Am I right?

Good call. But for defamation, it's going to be a hard sell. The OP would have had to have said "He did this" as opposed to "I think he did this." I might be wrong, but I thought defamation was when you make an accusation that causes the other person either fiscal/monetary distress or severe emotional trauma (EG, Jeff has gonnosyphiherpilaids--don't go near him, highly contagious!). OP should be safe if he expressed an opinion and did not accuse, and if the douche can't prove he suffered some kind of loss/got fired over it, etc.

[Russo]

got pics of the damage? you can take the foreign paint off and have it shot to get the paint code at any automotive paint supply store... if that OE paint code matches the suspects car, you now have a legitamate argument to stand on..

[The Stig]

Originally Posted by JeffInDFW

I'm guessing that asshole is threatening to sue for defamation. I'll bet he is a sales guy. Am I right?

You can only sue for defamation if the claims the OP made are false. Which they are not from what I can tell. *If* it were to go to court (highly doubt it will though) it becomes the responsibility of the prosecution (the a**hole who dinged your door) to prove that the statements made were false. Meaning that he has to prove that someone else dinged your car door and not him. Winning a defamation lawsuit is difficult in general, but this case would be a joke if it made it to court.

[Kman 2011 ss]

[Nessal]

Originally Posted by JeffInDFW

I'm guessing that asshole is threatening to sue for defamation. I'll bet he is a sales guy. Am I right?

Unfortunately, few people are car nuts. Most people think people like us a petty jerks for making a big deal out of something like this. In my old job, people would pull so far forward, they would bump noses into each other all down the line! There are usually 3-4 real cars guys on each workplace. Your best bet is to seek them out. Then, you guys can all find one area of the lot to park together. Thats what I've always tried to do.

I'm really sorry this happened. With him being such as a-hole, you won't get any help from the cops and I doubt anyone on the job will help. My advice is to quietly find where he lives........But, I'm vindictive.

LOL you are RIGHT ON THE MONEY. Yes he is in sales. He is actually a sales manager here and he overseas 6 other junior sales. This morning, he said that it was not him. I took pictures of his door this morning and IT IS DEFINATELY HIM. I will post the pictures in a few min for everyone to see. He has scratches to the edge of his door that matches up PERFECT in height to my scratch. It's HIM ALRIGHT!

I figured I'm not going to get much help from him so I'm not going to tell him that I took pictures of his damage yet. I'm going to get the facility manager involved so that he can see the damage himself first so that I have a witness. I'm afraid if I confront him right now, he will go clean it off before I can get someone to take a look at it.

[Nessal]

Ok I hope these pictures aren't too big. These pictures were all taken this morning except for the one with my damage. That one was yesterday. See what I mean when I say that he parks in this spot like CLOCKWORK?!? Sorry about the quality, they are all taken with my iphone.

So the first picture is our car side by side

Second is the damage on the edge of his door. It is the SAME EXACT HEIGHT AS MY DING!!!

Third is the damage on my car. It's a lot worse in person. It's all the way down to the metal and I have to get it covered FAST before it starts to rust.

Hopefully I can get the video and I'll post that up too.

[LolatheSlush]

good luck! let us know what happens