I actually had 71.75 hours in October so you still owe me at least $250. You also owe me $750 for the labor in August that wasn’t applied towards anything. You took advantage of my generosity when I offered to help with barn chores when you told me that your wife had placenta previa and could lose her baby if she continue doing regular barn chores, and now you won’t pay me for the labor? Yesterday, I met with a Cleveland attorney who specializes in equine law. You may have a board contract for the first horse but it is unlikely, as it was never duly executed or delivered to me in the required manner. No other board agreement was offered. Additionally, even if you had a requirement for 30 day notice to vacate, you have never previously enforced it, and have told me so many times. You have set your own standard there, it is unenforceable. There IS an industry standard, as it turns out, to represent someone in the purchase of a horse. You have not met any of the standards. As you are a professional, you are deemed aware of those standards and how you have breached them. Your fiduciary obligation did not rise to the industry standard and I am entitled to a refund of the commission. I’m going to sell [horse] as quickly as I can, and because we believe you coerced me into buying that horse, including using [wife's] excitement at the “homecoming” of a horse she bred and birthed, we will also seek any loss realized when she sells, including transport and PPE fees. We do not believe that you satisfied your obligation to train any of my horses in any of the full or partial training plans paid for. We will seek a refund of some of those fees as well. The details of how you took advantage of my trust in you as a professional horseman and coerced me into buying a horse that is unsuitable for me, including the emotional abuse I suffered, watching you treat various horses (including your own) with cruelty, listening to you demean and belittle other riders and clients, and subtly threatening me by carrying a gun in the barn and refusing to discuss the need to be armed for morning barn chores at 6am when I am the the only other person there, will be detailed in the complaint. This is a final respectful and private request to settle this matter. Please Venmo $4250 today. 

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Not a lawyer. No, not likely extortion. Lawyer up. She has, you’re behind the power curve.

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I know, I know, don't ask the internet for legal advice. I don't have anywhere else to turn.

I have a, now former, client who has apparently had some sort of mental health crisis and has decided I've done her very wrong (I haven't).  She is trying to get a refund on the $5k commission she paid me on a horse sale.

Work on the assumption that everything she's accusing me of has been twisted or is a blatant fabrication.

Would this constitute a threat of extortion?

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I know, I know, don't ask the internet for legal advice. I don't have anywhere else to turn.

I have a, now former, client who has apparently had some sort of mental health crisis and has decided I've done her very wrong (I haven't).  She is trying to get a refund on the $5k commission she paid me on a horse sale.

Work on the assumption that everything she's accusing me of has been twisted or is a blatant fabrication.

Would this constitute a threat of extortion?

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The one part that seems threatening is the criticism of your wearing a firearm to do chores and how it will be “discussed”.

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Thats a lot of accusations. I wonder how much if any of it is true.  

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Horse boarding, horse selling and quasi-legal semi-compensated barn chores in exchange for boarding?

These shit shows are always amazing clusterfucks of self-inflicted damage by all parties.

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Extortion?  

No.

It's someone saying you owe them money, or they owe you less money, or whatever, and for whatever reasoning...

... and they are going to file suit if some agreement isn't reached.

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Not even remotely possible unfortunately. She's a lawyer herself and we suspect she's living off the proceeds from her felon ex husband's $41 million ponzi scheme.

I'll have to borrow money to pay her off. We can't afford to get into a protracted legal battle.

In addition, because our sport is in the olympics,, we fall under the extra judicial jurisdiction of Safe Sport. Safe Sport has zero compunction with ruining peoples' reputations with no evidence. They've destroyed several pillars of the equestrian community based on 40+ year old allegations.

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I’m not a lawyer, but I wouldn’t consider that extortion.

Stop responding to her. You aren’t going to accomplish anything by entertaining her bullshit.

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Hire a lawyer to accept a letter from her attorney

Send her the address of said attorney and to contact them in all future correspondents

You wont hear from her again

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Hire a lawyer to accept a letter from her attorney

Send her the address of said attorney and to contact them in all future correspondents

You wont hear from her again

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Essentially none of it is factual. I performed my duties as a trainer representing her in the sale as a buyer. I could subpoena 30 other trainers that would back me up on that.

She has decided that the horse is "too good for her" and that she won't be able to do it justice.



Yeah, this has pretty much destroyed any remaining trust I have in clients. I truly did nothing but try this woman to the best of my abilities to help her achieve her goals. This has crushed my wife and me.

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Extortion?  

No.

It's someone saying you owe them money, or they owe you less money, or whatever, and for whatever reasoning...

... and they are going to file suit if some agreement isn't reached.

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No lawyer worth his salt will tell a client to fire off a nasty gram. They don’t get paid for that.

Step 1: ignore her.  Don’t reply.  Say nothing to her or anyone else about it. Nobody.
Step 2: preserve your documentation.  Screenshot the texts and print them off.
Step 3: live life.

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Was this sent to you as an email or a text, as a first-class, letter, or as a certified letter?

If the first three, ignore it and don't respond.  Chances are she hasn't consulted with anyone.

If the latter, she's getting serious but hasn't met with an attorney yet (unless she talks to herself).

If you get a demand letter from a real attorney who specializes in contract disputes then it's time to start worrying.

As an aside, I do have a contract attorney for my business.  I wouldn't contact her over a $6k demand as her retainer is higher than that.

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After consulting a specialist in equine law, which I can only imagine is somehow related to bird law.  

https://media1.tenor.com/images/1493636f391a486ca2e960b4de698d1d/tenor.gif?itemid=8142507

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Horses and anything associated with them draw massive amounts of drama and horseshit. ( Pun intended )  Get as far away from stupid ass horses and associated drama as you can.  Your life will be far better off for it.

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Now that you say that, I remember a few telling me it's like a warning shot.  Don't threaten the lawsuit, if you are going to sue, just sue.

Otherwise you just look like a blustering fool.

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She spoke with an attorney, and yet you're hearing from her.

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She sent it via text this morning.