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Small claims question

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C17little

Junior Member
I'm in New Jersey, I am in the process of filing a small claims case against the store that I purchased an animal. I was told that the dog was a purebred, after getting a DNA test 2 years later because everyone told me she's not a purebred, it turns out she's a mix. I called the company and told them, they said to email. I emailed them, they never responded. I said they have a deadline to get back to me and they never responded. I have the contract (without a price on it) and my bank statement showing that I paid them x amount of money. However I do not have a direct receipt. If i was to go into the store, and ask them to print out the order details from their system, would that have negative repercussions on me in court, or am I entitled to that discovery? They still have the order in their system with the price. Me and my girlfriend both remember the exact price we purchased the dog for, but we don't have it on paper technically to prove it. If i just bring the statement in, I fear they will say "we charged him only 400 for the dog, and the other 700 was on pet supplies"
 


Zigner

Senior Member, Non-Attorney
You may also bump up against the Statute of limitations.

If you are suing for Product liability: 2 years
N.J. Stat. § 2A:14-2(a)

Fraud: 6 years
N.J. Stat. § 2A:14-1

Contract (in writing): 6 years or 16 years
N.J. Stat. § 2A:14-1; N.J. Stat. § 2A:14-4

Contract (oral): 6 years
N.J. Stat. § 2A:14-1

Huh? This is a contracts case with hints of fraud..both are 6 years. OP's barely 1/3 of the way along.
 

C17little

Junior Member
Do you have it in writing that the dog is a purebred?

The contract says only mini schnauzer. If its a mix, it should say all breeds. The people when I bought the dog even told me she was purebred, and my girlfriend can be a witness to that. Even when I called, they claimed she was pure bred
 

Zigner

Senior Member, Non-Attorney
You DO know that a "mini schnauzer" is a mixed-breed, by definition, right?
 

quincy

Senior Member
You may also bump up against the Statute of limitations.

If you are suing for Product liability: 2 years
N.J. Stat. § 2A:14-2(a)

Product liability is a manufacturer's or seller's liability for damages or injuries suffered by a buyer (or user or bystander) as a result of a defective product.

C17little, are you prepared to return the dog to the store in exchange for a refund?

The miniature schnauzer is an AKC recognized breed: http://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/miniature-schnauzer/
 
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adjusterjack

Senior Member
I am in the process of filing a small claims case against the store that I purchased an animal. I was told that the dog was a purebred,

"I was told" is the most dangerous phrase in the English language.

I have the contract (without a price on it) and my bank statement showing that I paid them x amount of money.

The contract is what counts, not the price.

Does the contract say purebred?

However I do not have a direct receipt. If i was to go into the store, and ask them to print out the order details from their system, would that have negative repercussions on me in court, or am I entitled to that discovery?

They aren't going to give it to you. Besides, NJ small claims court does not allow discovery so you would have to rely on your own evidence and documents to make your case. If you want to engage in discovery and demand production of documents you would have to sue in Special Civil Part, which gets a lot more complicated.

They still have the order in their system with the price.

You can't know that for sure.

Me and my girlfriend both remember the exact price we purchased the dog for, but we don't have it on paper technically to prove it. If i just bring the statement in, I fear they will say "we charged him only 400 for the dog, and the other 700 was on pet supplies"

You paid $1100 for a dog because you thought he was a purebred? Yikes. When will people learn?

Unfortunately, buying a dog is like buying a car. Unless you get a written warranty, you buy it as is and it was up to you to check his bona fides before buying.
 

Zigner

Senior Member, Non-Attorney
The dog I recieved was a Mini Schnazuer and Poodle. Poodle has nothing to do with the breed They advertised me as.

Min Schnauzer's came about by breeding "regular" schnauzer's with other, smaller breeds (including poodles.)
 

C17little

Junior Member
Reply

"I was told" is the most dangerous phrase in the English language.



The contract is what counts, not the price.

Does the contract say purebred?



They aren't going to give it to you. Besides, NJ small claims court does not allow discovery so you would have to rely on your own evidence and documents to make your case. If you want to engage in discovery and demand production of documents you would have to sue in Special Civil Part, which gets a lot more complicated.



You can't know that for sure.



You paid $1100 for a dog because you thought he was a purebred? Yikes. When will people learn?

Unfortunately, buying a dog is like buying a car. Unless you get a written warranty, you buy it as is and it was up to you to check his bona fides before buying.

They told me they had the order on file via phone call last week. I did get a written warranty.
 

C17little

Junior Member
reply

Min Schnauzer's came about by breeding "regular" schnauzer's with other, smaller breeds (including poodles.)



DNA test my dogs parents are a purebred mini shhanzuer, and a Minischnauzer and Poodle. The breed name for Minischnazuer and Poodle is "Shnoodle". It is a separate breed.
 

quincy

Senior Member
DNA test my dogs parents are a purebred mini shhanzuer, and a Minischnauzer and Poodle. The breed name for Minischnazuer and Poodle is "Shnoodle". It is a separate breed.

The poodle-schnauzer mixes are cute dogs.

Were you planning on breeding or showing your dog, hence the concern? Or are you upset that you paid a pure-breed price for your mix? Or all of the above?

Most purebred dogs are sold with papers noting the parentage.
 
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C17little

Junior Member
Reply

Ok, what is the warranty?

The warranty says that I can not return the dog unless it has a serious illness. It doesn't cover the breed not actually being the breed I was told. However, Would I still be legally binded to said "contract" even though the contract says mini schnauzer when thats not what I got? Isn't that a breach of contract? In my eyes, I would be blinded to it if I received what the contract said, when thats not the case.

I am a 21 year old college student, I'm not a lawyer thats why I'm asking all of these questions haha
 

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