Quagmire!!

[pinkston]

This incident has multiple aspects. I rented a "short truck"('27ft w/lift gate) from ryder for a college buddy. He agreed to pay me back from the money that he would get from using the truck that week. He is self-employed and his business being local freight delivery trucking. I even drove a few routes for him during that week to help out. He informed me at the end of the week upon returning the truck, that he was still not caught up and didn't have the money he owed me. He had a domestic dispute and was incarcerated for a few days prior to me renting the truck, which is why he was behind on bills etc. He asked me to rent the truck because his name was "mudd" with local truck rental companies and could not rent a truck in his name, plus didn't have the money. Knowing him from college and over the years, I figured he would pay me back. Matter of fact it was a foregone conclusion that he would pay "his boy" back. Now that he informed me that he couldn't pay me then, I told him I would help him drive some routes to insure that he could maximize his availability to get accounts/money. For 3 to 4 months business began to pick up for him. I was not reimbursed. But he would mention that he would straighten me. Referring to the monies for the rental truck. He paid me daily for the routes I drove, so I knew he wasn't referring to that issue. Within the 3-4 months I also rented another truck to accommodate the work load, again in my name. "He" paid for the week, but returned the truck late. Late and mileage fees were assessed in "my name". As things got worse, he did not pay me for over the course of a month(my dumb loyal to a sinking friend a...). I asked him for the total monies and he said he didn't have it. He was waiting on a loan and then would give it to me. The first truck was $800.00. The truck he returned late and has gone to the credit bureau was $637.00. Wages are disputable. We agreed to $300.00 weekly, but reverted back to daily. I know he has other judgements that he owes money for. Is it even worth taking this guy to court????

Yes--sue him and then aggressively collect...you could even use small claims for part or all...

See http://www.worldlawdirect.com/article/935 -- Collecting on a court judgment.