Wife's handbag stolen

[Britboy]

My wife's handbag was stolen a couple of weeks ago from her workplace. Amazingly it was found several days later and the perpetrator caught today.

I understand that we would need to file a claim in the small claims court to recover our losses, is this correct? Any lawyers out there know what we can claim for, or a good information source about this.

The physical loss ended up being the phone and over $100 in cash. Can we also claim for the time spent sorting everything out - replacing CC's, cancelled checks, buying a new phone etc. What are the rules here? Would our hourly salary be the right amount?

Any help is appreciated.

Update

Guy worked there, got fired today. See my other post for more info!

 

[Pepsi90919]

whatever it cost you to replace stuff, not your time

 

[randay]

this is what lawyers are for.

congrats on catching the guy though.

 

[rudder]

Does the perp have a job? Otherwise it may be a long time before you see any money from them. Even if you get a court to award you damages.

 

[Specop 007]

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
whatever it cost you to replace stuff, not your time

Actually I think you can sue for lost wages due to time spent in replacing the items.

 

[SmoochyTX]

Find the receipts for your phone when you originally received it. The judge will need to know how much it would be worth now compared to how much you had to fork over for a new phone. Have proof of how much new checks cost you from the bank.

If you lost any time from work, get proof of that and how much that time was worth from HR.

 

[jtvang125]

You're fortunate that's all you lost. My ex had her purse stolen from her car and the thief spent almost $1000 worth of stuff using her debit card as a CC at the mall that same day. I don't know how they were able to do that but luckily she wasn't responsible for the changes.

 

[hypn0tik]

Pics of wife?

 

[theknight571]

Wouldn't it be covered by insurance? (Homeowner's or the Workplaces?)

I don't know... I was just thinking out loud.

 

[Fern]

IANAL, but I would suggest you talk with the D.A. (prosecuter) about getting repaid from the perp. Small claims is generally for civil matters AFAIK. This is a criminal matter and restitution is often part of the sentancing.

Good Luck,

Fern

 

[BrunoPuntzJones]

If the guy stole your wife's purse, do you think he has enough money to be paying you back?

You'll just be out more $$$

 

[mercanucaribe]

You want to take him on Judge Judy for stealing your wife's purse?

 

[sswingle]

Originally posted by: mercanucaribe
You want to take him on Judge Judy for stealing your wife's purse?

LOL. I agree. Thats not what small claims is for.

 

[1sikbITCH]

At least in Maryland, you cannot sue for anything other than what was actually stolen. You cannot sue for time spent replacing things, or lost wages from taking time out of work to go to the DMV or the bank or whatever. And you also cannot sue for time spent in court prosecuting your case.

And now you'll spend another $30 or so to file the suit. Then you'll have to take off work again to go to court. And in the end, all you can be awarded is the cost of the purse and the $100 that was in it. And as Bruno pointed out, since the dope fiend doesn't have a job, and most likely won't in the foreseable future, you have no way to recover any damages anyhow. It's a lost cause.

 

[Britboy]

Originally posted by: 1sikbITCH
At least in Maryland, you cannot sue for anything other than what was actually stolen. You cannot sue for time spent replacing things, or lost wages from taking time out of work to go to the DMV or the bank or whatever. And you also cannot sue for time spent in court prosecuting your case.

And now you'll spend another $30 or so to file the suit. Then you'll have to take off work again to go to court. And in the end, all you can be awarded is the cost of the purse and the $100 that was in it. And as Bruno pointed out, since the dope fiend doesn't have a job, and most likely won't in the foreseable future, you have no way to recover any damages anyhow. It's a lost cause.

Thanks for the info guys. The perp used to have a job, he was a contractor where she works, they fired him today because of the theft. Most likely he had a white collar office job given her work environment. The cop asked my wife to call him and let him know if she wanted to go ahead and prosecute and get restitution.

I would prefer this guy settles out of court for what we lost , including our time, that way we are compensated and he can make a fresh start rather than have a criminal record hanging over his head.