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All of us have been presented at one time or another with a bill – for services or for materials – that we considered outrageous. And after receiving a bill that knocks you over, people sometimes act on their anger. Perhaps they get on the phone and tell the vendor what they think of his invoice; some don’t use the service again; others tell their friends about the experience. The bottom line, however, is that the most potent weapon we have in a situation like this is to dispute the bill, and refuse to pay it. You might expect the dispute to lead to a discussion, and then a resolution, with all parties at least somewhat satisfied. But a recent case in United States District Court provides an example of how much anger might be felt by some who are involved in case of non-payment.
Police say a Tucson man who owned a power washing company submitted a $200 bill to a customer. The customer disputed the charge. The business owner apparently reacted a bit strongly. He was convicted last year of burning buckets filled with chemicals (including chlorine) in the customer’s yard. This tactic didn’t get the bill paid, but it did create a gas cloud, leading to the evacuation of the neighborhood. The conviction led to a 12-year prison sentence.
To make matters worse for the businessman, that wasn’t the end of the matter. He was also charged with unlawful possession of unregistered destructive devices. These charges were bases upon the discovery by federal agents of 24 such devices, some containing metal and BB’s. It was alleged that the defendant built the devices largely from household materials. On Friday, he was sentenced to 60 months in prison on these charges, two-thirds of which will be served concurrently with his original sentence, and the balance of which will add another 20 months to his 12-year sentence.
While this case is certainly one of the more bizarre examples of retaliation we’ve seen recently, it is a reminder that acting on anger can produce a lot more than harsh words and hurt feelings.
Law Offices of David A. Black
40 North Central Avenue #1850
Phoenix, AZ 85004
(480) 280-8028
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