I need legal advice

[McGyver]

I bought my house July 25, 2009 in Richmond. When i had it inspected the A/C wasn't working properly so part of the contract was that it needed to be fixed. The HVAC company filled the unit with 1.5lbs of refrigerant, changed the filters, did a visual leak inspection, and warned the previous owners (PO) that the only reason it would be low on refrigerant is that their was a leak. The HVAC company wanted to come back out to do a dye test to find and fix the leak, but the PO refused and then told me it had been fixed.

Less than a year later i had the same company come out and they had to put in 2lbs of refrigerant, basically the capacity of the unit. They told me it would be $1200-$1800 for a non-warrantied fix that had a 50-50 shot of working because they can't get the evaporator box anymore. My other option is to replace the entire unit for $4000-$5000.

The company is hesitant to come to court and be an expert witness for me. A lawyer wants $1500 to represent me plus some if it takes too long. Small Claims Court has a $5000 limit, but even if i win and the court says the PO has to pay me, their is no enforcement. I have everything in writing.

Im basically broke, in college, and my only income is from my renters who help pay the mortgage.

What do i do? :sad:

[Massive Lee]

Well. You have all the elements of proof to back a claim. Don't you? Just meet with the previous owner and present the facts. Ask for a mutually agreed solution. It will be his choice to go to court if he doesn't agree into a settlement. If you go to court, then the A/C contractor has no choice but to give a testimony if asked.

Basically, the previous owner knew of a problem, didn't disclose it and you have proofs of it. Isn't that enough to help your cause?

[FredK]

Buy $180 of window ACs for your renters?

[Sailor37]

Borrow someone's leak detector (if you have any mechanic friends), spend some time sniffing all the lines, coils, etc, and find the leak yourself...more than likely it's an o-ring leak or possibly a pin-hole leak that can be sweated (which you could probably fix yourself).

This way you'll at least know where the leak is at and be able to more aptly judge whether a complete replacement of your system is really necessary.

[pureaudio]

The first thing is to go to the PO with all the info you have collected including the statement from the HVAC company and the contract stating they would fix the A/C. Even if you can come to an agreement of partial coverage it will be better than going to court.

[snitzer]

by the time you spend money on the lawyers... you could be using the house to store meat in .... go to the library, get a book on ac repair... fix the the thing yourself and use all the money you save to buy a voodoo doll and some pins .... keep your renters cool and happy....

[Massive Lee]

The first thing is to go to the PO with all the info you have collected including the statement from the HVAC company and the contract stating they would fix the A/C. Even if you can come to an agreement of partial coverage it will be better than going to court.

Yup. This. The words of infinite wisdom ^^^^^^^^^^^^

[Restoman]

It's small claims, you don't need a lawyer.