My son, who's working as an auto mechanic, has/had this 1996 Honda Prelude which he kept in the parking lot of where he worked. The car has some problems (engine knock, 2 small rust holes, and a cracked windshield) and rather than take care of the problems and then sell the car, he was open to buyers. OK, so last winter, this kid approaches him and says he's interested. They agree on a price, $1500. The kid doesn't have the money right away so my son holds on to the title. One day, still during the winter, the kid shows up, hands my son the money, and drives the car (it can be driven a very short distance without problems) a few miles away to his friend's place of employment where he leaves it. He says he'll be back for the car and the title.
Well, days pass and the kid doesn't show up to either get the car or the title. In the meantime, the owner of the place is telling the kid he's got to move his friend's car from the parking lot or else... He gives the kid a few breaks but still the car remains, at which point he calls the police to tell them he's got an abandoned car and wants it towed away. The police come, discover the car is my son's (in name only since the title was never handed over...couldn't...kid wasn't there) and give him a break. My kid tells the guy what's happened and says he'll have the car towed to my house (I pay for the tow) and he can come and pick it up as well as the title when he gets around to it. Well, the car sits on my property through the winter and even though the kid's been contacted several times, and in fact, even once showed up here, he's yet to take the car.
So now, I've got this car sitting in my driveway for over 9 months. My son still has the title and the sale, if you'll call it that, was a gentlemen's agreement. I've stayed out of this pretty much because I want to give the kid who bought the car a break but it's kind of getting rediculous.
My question(s) are what's my or my son's recourse here legally? If the car had been towed by the police, it'd have been sold in auction or junked and someone, like my son since he still has the titlte, might've been obligated for storage and towing charges. Can I (he) charge the kid storage charges? Can the car be resold? Do I need a lawyer for this? Do I need to communicate in writing or some other means to get this thing removed and recoup my (nominal) towing charges?
Well, days pass and the kid doesn't show up to either get the car or the title. In the meantime, the owner of the place is telling the kid he's got to move his friend's car from the parking lot or else... He gives the kid a few breaks but still the car remains, at which point he calls the police to tell them he's got an abandoned car and wants it towed away. The police come, discover the car is my son's (in name only since the title was never handed over...couldn't...kid wasn't there) and give him a break. My kid tells the guy what's happened and says he'll have the car towed to my house (I pay for the tow) and he can come and pick it up as well as the title when he gets around to it. Well, the car sits on my property through the winter and even though the kid's been contacted several times, and in fact, even once showed up here, he's yet to take the car.
So now, I've got this car sitting in my driveway for over 9 months. My son still has the title and the sale, if you'll call it that, was a gentlemen's agreement. I've stayed out of this pretty much because I want to give the kid who bought the car a break but it's kind of getting rediculous.
My question(s) are what's my or my son's recourse here legally? If the car had been towed by the police, it'd have been sold in auction or junked and someone, like my son since he still has the titlte, might've been obligated for storage and towing charges. Can I (he) charge the kid storage charges? Can the car be resold? Do I need a lawyer for this? Do I need to communicate in writing or some other means to get this thing removed and recoup my (nominal) towing charges?
