OK... First let me say... my son pleads guilty! But....
A complant for $1300 was filed agains my son...
He stupidly put soap in an aquirium. Having had freshwater tanks I understand the ramifications...
But.....
The tank was partially "abandoned". The owner had left it in an apartment he had moved out of. There were NO FISH in the tank. The tank was already in bad shape. My son is a freind of the person who moved into the apartment. The owner of the tank was about to loose all rights to the tank because it had been left behind in the apartment. They claimed it was "stinking" and so my son stupidly put soap in the aquirium.
Some time later (days) when the owner came (the last day possible) to get it he saw it's condition and called the police. The sheriff came and handed my son a citation for $1300. It's either pay the $1300 or go to court.
Now.. the owner claims it was a saltwater tank. None of the people (including my son) have a clue if it was or not.
Please understand... He is at fault and I am willing to pay for the damage. But I also don't want to be taken advantage of. the owner will not negotiate. He will not provide a list of what was damaged....
So.. I don't know for sure what the tank was... I don't know what was damaged... I don't the value....
But.. If the tank had been left unattended with no fish for weeks... doesn't that show great neglect??? If it was a salt water tank, wouldn't the chemistry be all bad????
Understand... I want to pay FAIR value...
I know users of this forum will be on the side of the tank owner... and I stress, I want to be fair to the tank owner. But I don't want to pay $1300 for a tank and equipment that was already in bad condition due to neglect. Wouldn't a saltwater tank that was abandoned for several weeks be "bad" (chemisty, life rock, etc)
A complant for $1300 was filed agains my son...
He stupidly put soap in an aquirium. Having had freshwater tanks I understand the ramifications...
But.....
The tank was partially "abandoned". The owner had left it in an apartment he had moved out of. There were NO FISH in the tank. The tank was already in bad shape. My son is a freind of the person who moved into the apartment. The owner of the tank was about to loose all rights to the tank because it had been left behind in the apartment. They claimed it was "stinking" and so my son stupidly put soap in the aquirium.
Some time later (days) when the owner came (the last day possible) to get it he saw it's condition and called the police. The sheriff came and handed my son a citation for $1300. It's either pay the $1300 or go to court.
Now.. the owner claims it was a saltwater tank. None of the people (including my son) have a clue if it was or not.
Please understand... He is at fault and I am willing to pay for the damage. But I also don't want to be taken advantage of. the owner will not negotiate. He will not provide a list of what was damaged....
So.. I don't know for sure what the tank was... I don't know what was damaged... I don't the value....
But.. If the tank had been left unattended with no fish for weeks... doesn't that show great neglect??? If it was a salt water tank, wouldn't the chemistry be all bad????
Understand... I want to pay FAIR value...
I know users of this forum will be on the side of the tank owner... and I stress, I want to be fair to the tank owner. But I don't want to pay $1300 for a tank and equipment that was already in bad condition due to neglect. Wouldn't a saltwater tank that was abandoned for several weeks be "bad" (chemisty, life rock, etc)