What legal steps should one take if they are a victim of absolute black granite etching and under what circumstances would the distributor not be responsible? Would the State Consumer Protection agency be able to help or do we need to seek a lawyer? If we need a lawyer, is there someone in Utah you could refer us to? Thank you.
Dear Wendy:
You came to right place!
Before we go any further, we have to find out what the legal procedures are in the state of Utah. What I mean is that you need to find out what is the limit of the small claim court and, if it is less than the value of your countertop, which is the next quick court. (Here in New Jersey, for instance, there's a special section of the Superior Court called Special Civil. They handle cases up to $10,000.00 and within a few weeks from the filing (you wouldn't need an attorney), you'd be in front of a judge.
However, while it's true that you would not need an attorney, you MUST have an expert witness specializing in these sort of consumer frauds to go to court with you. If you can manage (the court clerk are usually very helpful in cases like this) to coordinate a date in which I would be available, I will be more than glad to be your expert witness myself. I don't expect any compensation, but you will have to pay for traveling, lodging and food expenses, plus possible research (I doubt that we will never need that, tough). Once you'll win the case you will also have to allow us to use the outcome of the sentence for any promotional scope (to help eliminate these kinds of criminal activities) that we will see fit.
But let's take it one step at a time.
Find out what I asked you and then we'll take it from there.