Friend borrowed skis & threw them out!...Judge?

Dudley Snowski · 04-01-10, 06:35 AM

Dear TalkSki friends,

I used to have late 70's vintage Rossignol ST Comp's (190cm). I am 5'10, 215 lbs & I ski aggressively on bumps, Michigan packed conditions, minimal powder, unless I'm in the Rockies on vacation. I had a spare pair of mid 90's vintage Yamaha's (195cm) that were similar type. Both had Solomon bindings & were used very little. They just had scuffs on the tops from typical use.

A "friend" borrowed them, along with my boots & poles, plus my wife's intermediate skis, boots & poles (don't remember the brand). He never returned them to me since he borrowed them in '98 & I am taking him to small claims court because he thinks they were thrown out when he moved. He's claiming that all of my equipment was worth approx. $350, based on his research of websites & ads.

I disagree. He sees web postings & ads for used equipment for next to nothing & doesn't comprehend that the skis he's pricing out are entry-level / intermediate / women's in a lot of cases & rarely long enough & aggressive enough to replace what I had for the prices he thinks I should be able to buy them for.

Could anyone please give me a little something to tell the court that would explain our "difference of opinion" on the value of my equipment?

I am more than happy to buy older used equipment, though I don't want to spend the Winter hunting all over the countryside for something comparable & in decent condition.

By the way, my friend is claiming that the boots & pole grips & baskets disintegrated while he had them & they were of no value. He threw them out too. I had used them within about 2 years prior & stored them in our home. I am thinking he may have stored them improperly (exposed to UV's & damp, variable temps.) If you have any input on that subject, I would appreciate it also.

I know this is a lot to ask, but if anyone could offer a short & to-the-point statement for the judge to have as an "authority" I would be forever grateful. Hopefully, if the judge understands the situation & rules in my favor, I will be able to purchase something, assuming the "defendant" pays up.

Again, thank you all in advance for your opinion / commentary if you are able to do so.

04-01-10, 06:35 AM	#1
Dudley Snowski I haven't picked a title Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 2	Friend borrowed skis & threw them out!...Judge? Dear TalkSki friends, I used to have late 70's vintage Rossignol ST Comp's (190cm). I am 5'10, 215 lbs & I ski aggressively on bumps, Michigan packed conditions, minimal powder, unless I'm in the Rockies on vacation. I had a spare pair of mid 90's vintage Yamaha's (195cm) that were similar type. Both had Solomon bindings & were used very little. They just had scuffs on the tops from typical use. A "friend" borrowed them, along with my boots & poles, plus my wife's intermediate skis, boots & poles (don't remember the brand). He never returned them to me since he borrowed them in '98 & I am taking him to small claims court because he thinks they were thrown out when he moved. He's claiming that all of my equipment was worth approx. $350, based on his research of websites & ads. I disagree. He sees web postings & ads for used equipment for next to nothing & doesn't comprehend that the skis he's pricing out are entry-level / intermediate / women's in a lot of cases & rarely long enough & aggressive enough to replace what I had for the prices he thinks I should be able to buy them for. Could anyone please give me a little something to tell the court that would explain our "difference of opinion" on the value of my equipment? I am more than happy to buy older used equipment, though I don't want to spend the Winter hunting all over the countryside for something comparable & in decent condition. By the way, my friend is claiming that the boots & pole grips & baskets disintegrated while he had them & they were of no value. He threw them out too. I had used them within about 2 years prior & stored them in our home. I am thinking he may have stored them improperly (exposed to UV's & damp, variable temps.) If you have any input on that subject, I would appreciate it also. I know this is a lot to ask, but if anyone could offer a short & to-the-point statement for the judge to have as an "authority" I would be forever grateful. Hopefully, if the judge understands the situation & rules in my favor, I will be able to purchase something, assuming the "defendant" pays up. Again, thank you all in advance for your opinion / commentary if you are able to do so.