Collecting Goods from an Unresponsive Taxi

[bearpaw]

Here's an informative article to help understand key legal issues related to potential defamation on Facebook, blogs, Twitter, and elsewhere (like H-W):  http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/social-media-online-defamation.html

Can You Sue an Internet Service Provider?

One reason you might want to sue the host or internet service provider (ISP) of the website that posted a defamatory statement is the "deep pockets" argument.

ISPs or website hosts might have more money -- and therefore more ability to pay a judgment -- than some blogger who posted a defamatory statement about you. But, for better or for worse, a federal law called the Communications Decency Act has specifically exempted website hosts and ISPs from most defamation claims.

Here's a defamation case where 13M was awarded: http://www.wfaa.com/news/local/Texas-Couple-Wins-Big-Internet-Defamation-Case-148586955.html

It's actually pretty common for social sites to be threatened with lawsuits. Therefore I have read up on the issues extensively. Here's what I have come to understand:

1. As a rule internet service providers (H-W) cannot be held liable for what others choose to publish (post on the forum)
2. In a lawsuit, the party claiming damages must prove to the court that a defamatory/slanderous comment is untrue.
3. The party claiming damages will also need to prove damages to the court.

Comment:
It is very common for members to post reviews of businesses/services/products on online blogs/forums, etc, in fact many internet sites are focused on reviews and many businesses welcome reviews of their products as it helps customers make informed buying decisions. Sometimes reviews are positive and sometimes negative, most often after numerous comments have been posted a public service has been performed in that people reading the reviews and comments can form an opinion regarding the business/service involved and know if they want to patronize said business/service. An opinion I have heard is that a business/service receiving a negative review is best served to respond and offer their side of the story and publicly make any bad deal right. Either way, in the end the public usually gets a better picture of customer satisfaction and service regarding the business/product/service involved in a review.

H-W allows members to express themselves freely as long as certain levels of decency are maintained, there have been a few questionable comments in this topic and a warning has been posted by admin to keep the comments factual. To my knowledge the OP has not made any untrue comments, I can't see where the OP has even cited a business/name. This topic will remain open for comment. Please keep the comments factual.

Thanks,
Dale

[D-Rock425]

 

[Antlershed]

There may be some debate about this forum’s owner’s responsibilities, and the individual user’s responsibilities. I would like to also add the following: “Anonymity of the internet increases the willingness and boldness of an individual to criticize. Some supporters contend that internet content is protected by Free Speech and that all comments online should be protected. On the other hand, libel can be proven in a similar manner as libel outside the realm of the internet. The balance comes between “protecting free speech and protecting against defamation.”” Can you sue people you don’t know? What about owners of forums/website who maintain anonymity? Turns out, you don’t need to know their names in order to sue.

I think this is my favorite part 

[10thmountainarcher]

Threat over Internet does not = assault whomever donewithhw is.. Jus saying

[luvmystang67]

I'm not quite sure what has happened to my original post, but everything that I'm seeing is not helping me to get my stuff back.  I just want to see my things again.

I intentionally have not stated the name of the taxi and have no intention of threatening anyone or any business, I was mostly looking for support and constructive ideas from the hunt-wa community on how to best go about retrieving my things from a shop that I had no luck getting ahold of.  While I have made limited contact with the taxi since the beginning of this post, I still have not set a time or date to get my things and would still like legal, kind, and constructive ideas for how to get my animals returned to me.

I'm not sure what the rest of this noise is, but it belongs in a different post... not in a thread about retrieving things from a taxidermist. 

For what its worth, it would be much more helpful if members made suggestions rather than simply poking fun at the situation, which solves nothing and has the potential to upset others.

[elk247]

Agreed! I feel bad for you man. Must be a helpless feeling. All the smak talking can't be fun for Dale and the mods to babysit. You've handled a difficult situation with class. Good luck to you getting your hard earned trophy back home where it belongs.

[bearpaw]

I'm not quite sure what has happened to my original post, but everything that I'm seeing is not helping me to get my stuff back.  I just want to see my things again.

I intentionally have not stated the name of the taxi and have no intention of threatening anyone or any business, I was mostly looking for support and constructive ideas from the hunt-wa community on how to best go about retrieving my things from a shop that I had no luck getting ahold of.  While I have made limited contact with the taxi since the beginning of this post, I still have not set a time or date to get my things and would still like legal, kind, and constructive ideas for how to get my animals returned to me.

I'm not sure what the rest of this noise is, but it belongs in a different post... not in a thread about retrieving things from a taxidermist. 

For what its worth, it would be much more helpful if members made suggestions rather than simply poking fun at the situation, which solves nothing and has the potential to upset others.

My advice: Continue to be persistent at requesting a date and time to pick up your stuff. As is often said "The squeaky wheel gets the grease!" I would send messages on email, facebook, taxidermy.net, and any other medium the taxidermist may use to get their attention. Just keep all your comments factual, be respectful, and try not to antagonize the situation. Make it clear you simply want to get your stuff as soon as possible. If you do not get a response in a couple days I would suggest sending another message stating that you are contacting the BBB the next business day, if still no response then contact the BBB, they are easy to find on google, they will help to make things right.

[woodman]

I'm not quite sure what has happened to my original post, but everything that I'm seeing is not helping me to get my stuff back.  I just want to see my things again.

I intentionally have not stated the name of the taxi and have no intention of threatening anyone or any business, I was mostly looking for support and constructive ideas from the hunt-wa community on how to best go about retrieving my things from a shop that I had no luck getting ahold of.  While I have made limited contact with the taxi since the beginning of this post, I still have not set a time or date to get my things and would still like legal, kind, and constructive ideas for how to get my animals returned to me.

I'm not sure what the rest of this noise is, but it belongs in a different post... not in a thread about retrieving things from a taxidermist. 

For what its worth, it would be much more helpful if members made suggestions rather than simply poking fun at the situation, which solves nothing and has the potential to upset others.

My advice: Continue to be persistent at requesting a date and time to pick up your stuff. As is often said "The squeaky wheel gets the grease!" I would send messages on email, facebook, taxidermy.net, and any other medium the taxidermist may use to get their attention. Just keep all your comments factual, be respectful, and try not to antagonize the situation. Make it clear you simply want to get your stuff as soon as possible. If you do not get a response in a couple days I would suggest sending another message stating that you are contacting the BBB the next business day, if still no response then contact the BBB, they are easy to find on google, they will help to make things right.

The BBB will mean nothing at all here. All it will accomplish is if someone calls them they will say that there has been a complaint filed with them. Obviously there have been many public complaints made already and you can see what that has accomplished. A letter from an atty can make a huge difference in this situation.

[Broken Arrow]

If i paid someone 500.00 to fix my Rolex watch 3 years ago, and every time i try to contact them they either wont answer or refuse to give my watch back...I personally would contact the police and file a report of stolen item. I would then assist the police with pictures of my watch, etc...give them the address of the person who now has possession and have them retrieve it for me.

Then after that I would sue for pain and suffering ( my friends all laughed at me for 3 years....sure you have a Rolex)

Some of you guys must be the most patient tree stand hunters in the world...lol.

I don't think i could keep being so professional. Like my dad used to say "hope in one hand and crap in the other"....see what fills up faster.

I would take some kind of legal action, even if it cost you at this point. Enough is enough!

[Cascade]

I don't have any suggestions for you other than what has already been said.  I am tagging this thread to follow for future reference.

[h20hunter]

My only suggestion, figuring that the taxi is fully aware of this thead, is that just get it over with. If taxidermy is being done as a business than do it in a business like manner. If the customer is done, get a final bill, get them their stuff, and simply be done. What is the point from a business standpoint of dragging it out. He or she wants to end the business relationship for any reason then let them. Collect what you are owed, pay back what is owed if needed, settle up on supply charges if any, and give them back there their property.

[bearpaw]

I'm not quite sure what has happened to my original post, but everything that I'm seeing is not helping me to get my stuff back.  I just want to see my things again.

I intentionally have not stated the name of the taxi and have no intention of threatening anyone or any business, I was mostly looking for support and constructive ideas from the hunt-wa community on how to best go about retrieving my things from a shop that I had no luck getting ahold of.  While I have made limited contact with the taxi since the beginning of this post, I still have not set a time or date to get my things and would still like legal, kind, and constructive ideas for how to get my animals returned to me.

I'm not sure what the rest of this noise is, but it belongs in a different post... not in a thread about retrieving things from a taxidermist. 

For what its worth, it would be much more helpful if members made suggestions rather than simply poking fun at the situation, which solves nothing and has the potential to upset others.

My advice: Continue to be persistent at requesting a date and time to pick up your stuff. As is often said "The squeaky wheel gets the grease!" I would send messages on email, facebook, taxidermy.net, and any other medium the taxidermist may use to get their attention. Just keep all your comments factual, be respectful, and try not to antagonize the situation. Make it clear you simply want to get your stuff as soon as possible. If you do not get a response in a couple days I would suggest sending another message stating that you are contacting the BBB the next business day, if still no response then contact the BBB, they are easy to find on google, they will help to make things right.

The BBB will mean nothing at all here. All it will accomplish is if someone calls them they will say that there has been a complaint filed with them. Obviously there have been many public complaints made already and you can see what that has accomplished. A letter from an atty can make a huge difference in this situation.

I disagree, if a complaint is filed with the BBB they will contact the business. If the business does not respond and does not make an acceptable settlement that becomes public record. It is definitely in the best interest of a business to respond to the BBB and settle complaints. Filing a complaint with the BBB costs the consumer nothing.

[Stein]

Can't believe I am jumping in but this situation seems so wrong.

If it were me:

http://www.courts.wa.gov/newsinfo/resources/?fa=newsinfo_jury.scc

[turkeyfeather]

I'm not quite sure what has happened to my original post, but everything that I'm seeing is not helping me to get my stuff back.  I just want to see my things again.

I intentionally have not stated the name of the taxi and have no intention of threatening anyone or any business, I was mostly looking for support and constructive ideas from the hunt-wa community on how to best go about retrieving my things from a shop that I had no luck getting ahold of.  While I have made limited contact with the taxi since the beginning of this post, I still have not set a time or date to get my things and would still like legal, kind, and constructive ideas for how to get my animals returned to me.

I'm not sure what the rest of this noise is, but it belongs in a different post... not in a thread about retrieving things from a taxidermist. 

For what its worth, it would be much more helpful if members made suggestions rather than simply poking fun at the situation, which solves nothing and has the potential to upset others.

My advice: Continue to be persistent at requesting a date and time to pick up your stuff. As is often said "The squeaky wheel gets the grease!" I would send messages on email, facebook, taxidermy.net, and any other medium the taxidermist may use to get their attention. Just keep all your comments factual, be respectful, and try not to antagonize the situation. Make it clear you simply want to get your stuff as soon as possible. If you do not get a response in a couple days I would suggest sending another message stating that you are contacting the BBB the next business day, if still no response then contact the BBB, they are easy to find on google, they will help to make things right.

The BBB will mean nothing at all here. All it will accomplish is if someone calls them they will say that there has been a complaint filed with them. Obviously there have been many public complaints made already and you can see what that has accomplished. A letter from an atty can make a huge difference in this situation.

I disagree, if a complaint is filed with the BBB they will contact the business. If the business does not respond and does not make an acceptable settlement that becomes public record. It is definitely in the best interest of a business to respond to the BBB and settle complaints. Filing a complaint with the BBB costs the consumer nothing.

I actually agree with Woodman on this. The BBB is nothing more than a coercion scam and a joke. They have absolutely no authority to do anything.

[turkeyfeather]

Your in a crappy situation here Stang, there is no doubt about that. But I think we all know you are gonna get knowhere without legal action. As far as the rest of the comments here I think we all were just trying to put a smile on your face in a tough situation. I don't believe there was any intent to be annoy you or jack your thread.