Overhaulin'

From your perspective is this the right thing to do? Please tell me is my father is right or if I am.?

My father is a good man. He earns a salary, religiously attends church, and helps out with friends and family. He has a couple hobbies that besides bringing in change is pure decent enjoyment. One particular hobby is purchasing vehicles, fixing them up, and re-selling them. This is where my problem with him resides. He and my mother have been friends with one lady for a long period. My parents have a stable financial life, but she doesn't. She recently bought a car from my parents, and since she could not afford ba loan because of bad credit, they took out a $2100 loan in their name for her. She made a promisorry note, stating that she would make all the monthly payments on time. She has made every payment on time, and she has never missed one. But my argument is not with her, but instead with her son. She's of old age probably 60's and she has one son who has a colorful record. He's in his late 30's and he has gone through living off of her to trying to have her arrested, and then being arrested, for domestic disturbance and for drug possesion. Currently he is on good terms with his mom right now, so she's allowing him to stay with her. She allows him back in because according to her "this guy is her son and she is his mother so she can't turn her back on him". But here is where the problem is. A couple years back this friend sold her house to my parents, who renovated the inside and outside with their own money and thier hands (they did 76%) of the work. The women came to my parents house when they were almost done with the rennovations and asked if her son and his girlfirend could stay in their for a few days. She had bought a trailer and did not have enough space for them both. My instincts told me this was not a good thing, and I argued against it. I did not like what this friend had asked from my parents. If she thought she was doing a motherly thing by seeking a place for her son, it should have been in the comfort of her home, not the home my parents bought. Since my parents thought it was only going to be a few days, they did not make out a lease, but abided under an oral agreement. After a few days had passed my parents asked them to leave. However the son and his girlfriend refused to leave and said that they were going to stay there for a few months. According to them this house belonged to the son, because it was originally his mothers. But his mother SOLD it to my parents along with an ongoing family dispute. My parents had to take them to court to make them leave, and what hurts me the most was not the situation itself but the comments that this friends son and his girlfriend hurled at my parents in court, This sickening couple said that my parents had promised this and done that and then the girlfriend even said my father tried to make advances on her. My father and mother were always together when they were at that house. They were never apart, I know my father I am with him 95% of the time, he is a good man. My parents' friend, the guys mother did side with my parents at the court case and offered herself as a witness to help my parents with case.. Now currently I am seeing deja vu. My father who has finished work on a vehicle wants to sell it. He was looking for a buyer, and with upcoming land taxes he wanted to find a quick buyer. Thier friend came over a few days later and said wanted to know if my dad had a vehicle that her son can buy. After the last mishap, I would think my father would be against any sale or legal dealing with the friends son. I wanted to know the friends son's additional court history, and it was an frightening sight. I Checking the court files I found out her son has already tried to sue two companies this year. To me the idea of my Dad selling this vehicle to this friends son is way past ridiculous. He still wants to sell the car to this guy after I told him about his past: the same guy who took advantage of him, lied about him, tries to make a living off of lawsuits, and he wants to sell the car to him? I a future law student (fall) and I know that this friends son could sue us for so many things about the car. I drove this week and had it inspected, the mechanic said it was in good shape and is running smoothly. So I know the car is a good deal, but you could do something to the vehicle and claim the owner had sold it to him in that state. And based on the courtfiles, he has made past statements. I am trying to talk my Dad out of this, and he mentioned that he would get the buyer to sign a best as warranty or something along the lines of that. What that means is that if something is wrong with the car in the future, the seller is not at fault. But I can;t believe that would work too well in a legal situation. Because you can always say that the seller was not honest about the sale, claiming the "Buyer Beware clause". I know that I am going to get into a big argument with my Dad. He is in Canada for a few days and will be back on Frida My Dad will be back in on Friday, so I have three days to find a buyer for the car. Am I wrong to object, to refuse the sale.

Public Comments

1. there is no legal obligation to sell anything to anyone you don't want too, i say stick up for your argument, you are doing the right thing - good luck
2. you don't have to sell anything to anyone i guarantee you can find someone to buy a car if u try hard enough, and i can guarantee you that this guy isn't the best person to do business with. i agree with you, i'd find that new buyer
3. your dad has a heart of gold..and he forgives...the Lord says to forgive and to pray for your enemies...says revenge is His. to help your dad out just be sure this guy has the money up front. let him sign a paper that it is to be sold "as is". no warranty's on motor or transmission...this is the way a car auction does....then you are covered cause he can't sue you for the frame of the car. good luck
4. Wow. It sounds as if your parents have gone through a lot with this couple. I agree with you. Another argument that you can use with your father is (depending where you live) there is usually a buyer protection (in the state of Illinois for any purchase, excluding service, food, and hotel, if you purchase something you have 3 days to take it back, no matter what any says, that is a state law) I am unsure where you live but I would be sure to check on laws such as that one even if you do sell it "as is" Be careful. It sounds that your parents have large hearts, I wish you the best of luck. Try posting the car on Craig's list etc to help it sell faster!
5. The fact is its not your car and you did not do the work on it or pay to have the car fixed. All of this said, you have no right to get to decide what is done with it. You can voice your concerns, but any further and you are going to just annoy him.