Is it normal to sue your brother?

71% Normal
12 Comments

My Dad died a few years ago, and left 3 heirooms to each of us kids. Each one is valued between $10,000 and $15,000. Each one has been passed down the family, so they are more than just 'things'. It just so happens that my heirloom was a pair of shotguns. My brother asked to take them shooting about 3 months later, and never retuned them. After a year of going back and forth with him, he refused to give them back and 'disowned' me saying I never deserved to have them in the first place because I was wealthier than him and my Sister. (Ummm.... YEA I busted my ASS in school to get where I am. They partied.)

I brought up charges against him, but it turned into a civil suit, and I recenty won. He confessed in court that he sold the guns right when he got them, and disowned me to avoid 'maning up' to it. I have taken a TON of heat for going after him, and not letting it go.

Voting Results
71% Normal
Based on 58 votes (41 yes)
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Comments ( 12 )
  • Angel_in_a_Glass_Dress
    12 years ago

    just because he sold them doesn't mean you can't get them back.

    the people who bought them legally have to surrender the weapons since they were stolen items. and then they have to go after him in court to recoup their losses

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    • TerryVie
      12 years ago

      thats exactly what i was thinking!

      as for wether it's ok to sue family: This was about heirlooms from your father! Even if only for the emotional value, it would be worth it to get them back. If a family member would take them from you "because you had it better in life", then they don't deserve getting "family immunity" in regards to court or sueing.

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      • redvelvet55
        12 years ago

        I wish this was the case, but it's not. Since I won a civil suit granting me the value of the guns, I have no legal claim to them anymore. I can't have both. I begged the judge to grant the guns back to me, since I don't care about the money, but he couldn't because they were resold. If I had gone after him when it all first happened that might have been an option, but I didn't because I didn't want to go down this road. (and I didn't think he actually sold my heirloom!)I did everything I could to keep a realionship with him before sueing him. I'm paying a high price for that trust.

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        • TerryVie
          12 years ago

          well, you could still hunt them down, right? You were granted the value, maybe you have to overpay a bit, but if you ask who they were sold to and try to get into contact with them? Wouldn't they probably sell them back, even at a slightly higher price?

          Or can you sell guns without protocolling that somewhere? I know america has rather liberal laws when it comes to weapons but i was under the impression that transactions still need to be made officially?

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          • Angel_in_a_Glass_Dress
            12 years ago

            that's an option.

            if the buyer's are not jerks then they may resell them to you.

            also - did your brother provide any proof of the sale?

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  • GuessWho
    12 years ago

    Your brother's an asshole, sue him for everything he's got.

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  • 4theloveofdez
    12 years ago

    Wow, my first instinct would be to not sue your brother but after hearing that story I might have done the same of he was unable to return the property to me. It has sentimental value why would he sell it?

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  • joybird
    12 years ago

    I have four younger siblings and every one of them would do that, out of sheer greed. The sibling relationship really breaks when you move out and live separate lives. So he shouldn't be disowning you - you should be disowning him! As long as he doesn't come crawling to you again when he's down on his luck, let him go!!

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  • dinz
    12 years ago

    Regardless if he is facing a tough time - doing such a thing is still wrong.

    Maybe you could look at alternative means of compensation, something that wouldn't sink your bother even lower?

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  • Its_Called_Love
    12 years ago

    I have family like this, no respect for others or what others do for them. They complain about how their lives turned out when they helped make it that way. I'd disown him right back, because bottom line is he stole and lied to you about it. He needs to know there isn't a easy way out. He sounds like someone who will no doubt end up in jail.

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  • redvelvet55
    12 years ago

    I believe him alright. He gave the name of the shop he sold them to, and they have record of it. Unfortunately because he waited so long to fess up they resold them. My brother has nothing of any value, no home, his car is valued under $1000, and he also sold the heirloom he received. Getting money from him will be as easy as getting blood from a turnip.

    This whole ordeal has ripped our family apart with people taking different sides. I feel stupid for trusting him, but at the time I had no reason not to.

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  • screamrezy
    12 years ago

    Brother or not you should sue him, but your brother sounds like he's going through some emotional problems, so maybe you should try and talk to him about whats going with him and why it's directed towards you.

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