Updated 11/4/08: Oral arguments re. Trans Union motion to dismiss
Judge Teilborg makes me drive 500 miles for my 10 minutes of oral arguments in Phoenix court.
What about the horses?
I left around 6 am, was almost in Phoenix around 10:30 and was just thinking that I should stop by Target to see if my Target Guest card still works and to try to get some seeds from the many beautiful plants along the road. Got to a red light, went to shift down and the clutch cable broke.
Fortunately, I was in the right lane and I could just coast off the road to assess the situation.
After the initial panic, thinking “I’m so screwed, how am I going to pay for hotel, towing and repair?”, I decided to see how it goes without clutch. Obviously NOT in downtown Phoenix, but to try to get home. Since I had my dog with me, there was no way that I could just leave the truck and try to somehow get to the courthouse.
There wasn’t much traffic, I managed to get going by starting while in 2nd gear, found a place to make a u-turn (not easy with a crew cab dually) and somehow managed to shift into 5th gear and get back to Wickenburg.
Wickenburg has only one light, but it’s often stop and go. Traffic wasn’t too bad and then I pulled over, got the court’s number and let them know that I couldn’t make it. Judge Teilborg fortunately made an exception and allowed me to call in for the hearing. I had over an hour to find a landline or a place away from the highway noise and with some shade.
I tried a Super 8 motel, but they wanted to charge the full $70 room rate for half an hour. Interestingly, someone had left their receipt on the counter and they paid only a little over $30 per day. I decided to look for a quiet place in the shade to park.
It was tough, but eventually I found the apparently only shady parking. The Fed Ex driver was there for lunch and when he left a big truck pulled up.
That’s the place with the horses, very scenic.
TU attorney Bradley was his usual obnoxious self.
The lies just flow right out of his mouth. There really should be a rule that prohibits lawyers from lying. $50 for every lie and I’d be rich.
He claimed that every one of my cases was thrown out of court as this one will be. Reality check: TU was dismissed the first time I sued it because I served it late and the second time because judge Wake decided that the claims weren’t related to my Focus claims. My claims against TU have NEVER been dismissed.
He also suggested that I should be blogging and lobbying Congress. Yeah, right. It takes many millions of dollars to lobby Congress, which is why the CRAs get what they want and the laws get weaker and weaker. They HAVE the millions to bribe legislators. I don’t.
I had only 10 minutes for my arguments and no watch. It was weird in the truck with my crummy cell phone. Thank God I remembered to charge it yesterday and to take it along. I haven’t used it since my nephew left in July.
I don’t understand the purpose of oral arguments—aside from lawyers being able to bill mega bucks to their clients and me having to waste mega bucks driving to Phoenix. I had absolutely NO time to consider my response to his arguments and lies. It’s incredibly pointless.
So the judge took our arguments under advisement and I got to drive home. I couldn’t shift into 5th gear. Finally decided to drive to the top of a hill in 3rd, turn off the truck, shift into 5th and then start it. It worked. Barely. No more stops till Kingman.
Did have to pick up my mail and get some lumber (one stop) and get some groceries and fuel. The poor truck. I ran the only stop sign on the way home and then I only had to stop one more time once I got on the dirt road to shift down.
I’m very glad I made it home. I’ve never replaced a clutch cable and I doubt I have the required tools. The radiator is leaking too, but it’s only a small leak. I’m still hoping that the aluminum stop leak stuff works eventually. One of the shocks busted years ago (dirt roads). It’s a miracle the truck still runs. My nephew changed the oil in summer and that’s the extent of maintenance in recent years.
Fortunately, I have a few thousand gallons of water in my tanks, I doubt I can haul water without clutch.
Update 11/4/08:
A client provided online support and it turns out that my clutch doesn’t have a clutch cable, it’s a hydraulic clutch. I checked the reservoir, it’s empty. Added brake fluid and it ran right through. There’s no hose attached to the reservoir. Have to see if I can find the hose tomorrow in daylight. I’m hopefully that I can fix this myself.
It just goes to show that if I occasionally checked the fluids in my truck, I would have known that I have a hydraulic clutch. For some reason I only check oil and water (because I know there’s leaks.)
Just like most people still think that good credit means paying your bills on time, I thought cars have clutch cables like 30 years ago.
So much to learn ...
UPDATE: The next day I saw that the hose had fallen off the clutch reservoir. I put it back on, pushed in the pin that holds it in place, filled the reservoir and my client faxed me the drawing of how to bleed the clutch. Fixed!
Not only did I save the cost of paying a mechanic, possibly towing and/or having to rent a car, but I saved a lot of TIME.
And there’s nothing like knowing that you’re capable of accomplishing things yourself. Sure, I won’t be rebuilding my engine and I’d PREFER to be able to just make a phone call and have “someone else” take care of it, but it’s never that easy. And that “someone” will want to get paid.
Trado isn’t just about money, trade and jobs, but also about members assisting each other with all kinds of DYI projects, possibly for a fee for extensive help.
Posted by Christine on 11/03/2008 at 07:00 PM
2007 Inquiry suit • Trans Union • (0) Comments • Permalink
