News Nightmare Craig's List Buyer is Lawsuit Happy

**gblowfish** · 06-07-2016, 08:57 AM

Guy spends $12,000 on lawyers defending himself on the sale of a $40 printer. Jeez!

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/...78168/?ref=yfp

INDIANAPOLIS --- Selling a used, black-and-white printer through Craigslist seemed simple and straightforward to Doug Costello.

It wasn't.

What the 66-year-old Massachusetts man didn't know then is that he would spend the next 6 ½ years embroiled in a complicated and confusing legal dispute in Indiana over that printer, which, according to its buyer, was broken.

He would find himself liable for about $30,000 in damages. He would pay a lawyer at least $12,000 in his battle to escape the legal mess.

And it all started with a piece of hardware he sold online for about $40 in 2009. With shipping and other costs, the total was less than $75, according to court records.

The printer's buyer was Gersh Zavodnik, a 54-year-old Indianapolis man known to many in the legal community as a frequent lawsuit filer who also represents himself in court. The Indiana Supreme Court said the "prolific, abusive litigant" has brought dozens of lawsuits against individuals and businesses, often asking for astronomical damages. Most, according to court records, involve online sales and transactions.

Zavodnik, a native of Ukraine who moved to the United States in 1987 under a grant of political asylum, sued Costello, accusing him of falsely advertising a malfunctioning printer with missing parts, and pocketing Zavodnik's money. According to a complaint filed in Marion Superior Court, Zavodnik tried to resolve the issue with Costello to no avail, leaving him with no other choice but to take legal action.

Zavodnik declined to speak with IndyStar. In an earlier interview, he said his motivation for filing lawsuits is simple: to seek justice from people who, he said, stole money from him.

According to court records, Zavodnik initially filed a lawsuit in Marion County Small Claims Court, where he asked for the maximum damages of $6,000. Zavodnik lost because he had thrown away the evidence (the printer), court records said.

Costello said he thought that was the end of the legal fight, but Zavodnik filed another lawsuit in Marion Superior Court, where he requested damages for breach of contract, fraud, conversion, deceptive advertising and emotional distress.

"I figured that's it," Costello said of his victory in small claims court. "But no, no, no. Now I'm in another twilight zone."

Tombstone RJ · 06-07-2016, 09:25 AM

'Murica! Where smart ass instigators from Eastern Europe come to milk, defraud & defile the American Dream.

R Clark · 06-07-2016, 09:34 AM

Deport the bastard

**Gonzo** · 06-07-2016, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by R Clark

Deport the bastard

Dayze · 06-07-2016, 10:24 AM

Lmao.

Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk

**Bwana** · 06-07-2016, 10:49 AM

Wow, hopefully Zavodnik finds himself on the wrong end of a drive by.

**Iowanian** · 06-07-2016, 11:03 AM

Would have been cheaper to have had him stuffed in a well...and better for Humanity.

**Rain Man** · 06-07-2016, 12:07 PM

I don't think I would want to be Zavodnik's next door neighbor.

06-07-2016, 08:57 AM
gblowfish Be Kind To Your Pets Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Glorious Independence, MO Casino cash: $17686178 VARSITY	Nightmare Craig's List Buyer is Lawsuit Happy Guy spends $12,000 on lawyers defending himself on the sale of a $40 printer. Jeez! http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/...78168/?ref=yfp INDIANAPOLIS --- Selling a used, black-and-white printer through Craigslist seemed simple and straightforward to Doug Costello. It wasn't. What the 66-year-old Massachusetts man didn't know then is that he would spend the next 6 ½ years embroiled in a complicated and confusing legal dispute in Indiana over that printer, which, according to its buyer, was broken. He would find himself liable for about $30,000 in damages. He would pay a lawyer at least $12,000 in his battle to escape the legal mess. And it all started with a piece of hardware he sold online for about $40 in 2009. With shipping and other costs, the total was less than $75, according to court records. The printer's buyer was Gersh Zavodnik, a 54-year-old Indianapolis man known to many in the legal community as a frequent lawsuit filer who also represents himself in court. The Indiana Supreme Court said the "prolific, abusive litigant" has brought dozens of lawsuits against individuals and businesses, often asking for astronomical damages. Most, according to court records, involve online sales and transactions. Zavodnik, a native of Ukraine who moved to the United States in 1987 under a grant of political asylum, sued Costello, accusing him of falsely advertising a malfunctioning printer with missing parts, and pocketing Zavodnik's money. According to a complaint filed in Marion Superior Court, Zavodnik tried to resolve the issue with Costello to no avail, leaving him with no other choice but to take legal action. Zavodnik declined to speak with IndyStar. In an earlier interview, he said his motivation for filing lawsuits is simple: to seek justice from people who, he said, stole money from him. According to court records, Zavodnik initially filed a lawsuit in Marion County Small Claims Court, where he asked for the maximum damages of $6,000. Zavodnik lost because he had thrown away the evidence (the printer), court records said. Costello said he thought that was the end of the legal fight, but Zavodnik filed another lawsuit in Marion Superior Court, where he requested damages for breach of contract, fraud, conversion, deceptive advertising and emotional distress. "I figured that's it," Costello said of his victory in small claims court. "But no, no, no. Now I'm in another twilight zone."
Posts: 40,830

06-07-2016, 09:25 AM	#2
Tombstone RJ Broncos' Fan Extraordinaire! Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Denver Casino cash: $10012184	'Murica! Where smart ass instigators from Eastern Europe come to milk, defraud & defile the American Dream. __________________ ORANGE COLORED GLASSES ARE ALWAYS ON!
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06-07-2016, 09:34 AM	#3
R Clark Veteran Join Date: Aug 2001 Casino cash: $4864900	Deport the bastard
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06-07-2016, 10:24 AM	#5
Dayze Resident Glue Sniffer Join Date: Nov 2003 Casino cash: $5219358	Lmao. Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk __________________ Life is 99% inspiration, 1% Perspiration, and 1% Attention to Detial. RIP & Godspeed: Saccoppo Lonewolf Ed Fire Me Boy
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06-07-2016, 10:49 AM	#6
Bwana It's Five O'Clock Somewhere Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Billings, Montana Casino cash: $2139593647	Wow, hopefully Zavodnik finds himself on the wrong end of a drive by. __________________ Adventure is dangerous....but monotony can kill you.
Posts: 69,730

06-07-2016, 11:03 AM	#7
Iowanian Supporter Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Utopia Casino cash: $4798454	Would have been cheaper to have had him stuffed in a well...and better for Humanity.
Posts: 61,518

06-07-2016, 12:07 PM	#8
Rain Man NFL's #1 Ermines Fan Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: My house Casino cash: $3368491 VARSITY	I don't think I would want to be Zavodnik's next door neighbor. __________________ I'm putting random letters here as a celebration of free speech: xigrakgrah misorojeq rkemeseit.
Posts: 141,247