Q: Need advice please. I have property of mine at a boat repair business, It is a lower unit that goes on my boat motor.

A: Hi,

My name is Dash. I'm an attorney who specializes at Equal Justice Solutions, a firm that specializes in consumer law (among other things). Full disclaimer, we are not licensed in Missouri, and recommend you reach out to a MO lawyer for further information.

First, who manufactures your boat? Is it Beneteau? If so, a class action was recently filed by my firm against them, and we would love to learn more. We believe Beneteau may incentives dealers to make boat repairs take as long as possible to lower their warranty costs, but litigation is ongoing. If it is a Beneteau boat, please contact my firm:

https://equaljusticesolutions.org/

If not, I recommend you try filing a complaint with the BBB and state attorney general office. While neither may do much, they will prompt the business to likely respond, and that may incentivize them to finish the repairs or return the boat.

Barring that, your best bet would be to hire a consumer protection lawyer, or someone who is familiar with laws that protect MO consumers. You should be able to get them to write a demand letter on a flat rate. If they have to sue, they may be able to do it on a flat rate, as well, especially if it can be done in small claims court. Many consumer protection laws allow the consumer to recover attorneys fees as part of damages, so if you do sue and win, make sure your lawyer asks for attorneys fees.

Sorry to hear about the boat, and wishing you the best.

Kind regards,

Dash

A: It sounds like a frustrating situation with your boat repair business. While I can’t provide direct legal advice, I can offer a few steps that might help you move forward.

First, it’s important to document everything—keep a record of the dates when you dropped off the boat, any communication you’ve had with the repair shop (calls, texts, etc.), and the promises they made about repairs. This can help if the situation escalates.

Next, consider sending a written letter or email to the repair shop, clearly stating that you expect the work to be completed or that you want your property returned. Sometimes a formal, written request can get more attention than phone calls or texts.

If they continue to ignore you and the issue persists, it might be worth looking into your options for small claims court in Missouri, or you could consult someone familiar with consumer rights who might be able to guide you on the best approach to get your property back or resolve the repair issue.

In the meantime, gathering all the relevant information and keeping a clear timeline of events will be helpful no matter how you choose to proceed.