Date:         Sat, 4 Dec 1999 18:21:52 -0800
Reply-To:     Doktor Tim <doktortim@ROCKISLAND.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Doktor Tim <doktortim@ROCKISLAND.COM>
Subject:      Re: Eurovan Fire Update
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

At 07:50 PM 01/14/2000 -0500, you wrote:
>Hi All,
>
>I had hoped to have some good news on my 93 Eurovan, but it has now turned
>into a case of SSDD...Same Shit, Different Day.
>They will not address the issue of loss of use, loss of market value, etc.
>
>This is frustrating, my next move is going to be litigation.
>
>Ric
>

As a lawyer, you know you must hire an attorney to prepare the case.
Representing yourself will be risky in the face of VWoA. Their lawyers
might shread you to pieces with a dozen $350 hours. I have filed suit twice
in my life. In one case I got all I was asking, eventually. In another,
small claims, representing myself, with what I thought was a lock cinch
case, I got half 'cause I did not submit one piece of evidence I had with
me but failed to enter.

Search diligently for evidence of other Euro fires due to the hoses.
Document those to show a general culpability to the public. Guess what, if
you find 3 or 5 or 7 more, mayby the VINs will all fall within a narrow
margin, and would be circumstantial to a defective batch of hoses for a
short period of production. Did Continental make those hoses for VWoA??
Another deep pocket exposed, wouldn't you say???

I always hesitate to suggest to anyone to file suit. If I was out the kind
of damages you have suffered, I feel I would also have to pursue it. Once
filed the media might be interested in the story of the
HardHeadedNeanderthals of VWoA who are pushin' and shovin' around one of
their clients, and others.

What is the word from NHTSA?? Did you not send them some info??? Perhaps
contact your representatives State/Federal and see in this election year if
one of them will "liberate" you by making VWoA more liberal with the idea
of fixing you with like kind or better transportation. It's the kind of
story that could get a candidates name mentioned without the cost of
advertising.

The only thing else I can say is, if I was on the jury, I'd be very
interested in seeing the defence, 'cause I can't imagine them having
suitable explaination for their actions.

This is like adverse possession, push and shove. If you don't shove back,
they win. If you shove hard as you can, you still might loose but you have
a good chance of winning, in my very limited opinion, not actually being a
lawyer myself, I am just playing one now. Get an independant qualified
non-interested Lawyer to review and advise.

Have you reviewed and Shepardized the relevant law?? Hand your counciler
all the evidence and all the law you have found in the form of an outline
with exibits. Your many hours invested thus far can bring him/her up to
speed in short time.

What ever happened to the insurance co.?? I want to know again what company
that is so I never pay a premium to them.

Don't mortgage or sell the farm to finance litigation.

Dang, I feel for ya, and wish I could make it better. Alas, keep us
informed as you will.

Sinc.,


T.P. Stephens aka Doktor Tim
Surveyor, Mechanic, Poet, Philosopher
San Juan Island, WA