Q: My child got in a fight at school&damaged the other student's glasses frame.Parents are saying replace is $400 w/o
a receipt. The lens weren't broken but one side of the frames was damaged. The glasses weren't new. My child was suspended two days out of school. Can I ask that we pay for repair of the glasses or are we obligated to buy new glasses entirely?
A:
This is a great question and unfortunately not one that has a clear answer. If you believe your child was at fault and the other child's glasses are truly broken, then yes, pay the full price, but of course, you should see some sort of estimate to replace or repair first. Asking for proof is not unreasonable. However, if you feel like it is more probable than not that the fault lies with the other child, or you do not believe that the damage equals the amount asked for, then an honest conversation with the other child's parent's should probably occur. The problem I have with answering your question is that you do not say whether or not your child was to blame for instigating the fight, if this was mutual combat, or if the other child started the fight. Each one of those will have an impact on what you may be legally responsible for. Also, the other child's parents really should show you proof of the damage. That is not an unreasonable request. I think the best thing to do at this point is to talk to the other parents and figure out, in a calm manner, the best solution for everyone. Remember, you are the adults here! Good luck!
www.JudgeCase.com
A: Legally, you are only required to pay for the cost of what you damaged--which is a used pair of glasses. However, if you get a full release of all claims, it may save you hassles if you pay the amount. It's reasonable to ask for an estimate or something showing they didn't decide to get a pair of designer frames on you.
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