Posted by Carla_MD on 4/14/09 9:57pm
Msg #285045

Should I press charges?

I was hired to today to meet with a customer to sign papers for a structured settlement. I was told to get to the client's house asap. I printed the docs and headed out. I tried to call the borrowr several times on her cell phone but got no answer. When I arrived at the house, which was in a bad neighborhood with all the houses boarded up on the block except for that one. I knocked on the door several times and got no answer. After calling her like 5 times she answered the phone and I told her I was at the door. A woman came to the door shortly after and led me to the back of the house, where the door was ajar. We entered in and the area looked like a basement not a seperate apartment. I asked the lady whether I should the shut the door. She screamed back at me."If you want to feel safe, if you don't want to feel safe you can leave it open!!" I stared at her in disbelief. I shut the door and said nothing. Then I wait for instruction as to where to sit to sign the documents since there was no furniture in the house. The lady went off on me and started cursing me out for no reason. I told her I was not taking any more of her mouth and I was leaving. She told me I'd better leave and called me a bunch of curse words following me down the hallway. I quickly ran out the door and it was raining and when i went down the stairs I slipped and hit my head on the corner of a step and hit the ground. I got up quickly and ran to my car. Crazy lady runs out and starts grabbing my car door handles trying to get to me in my car. Fortunately I saw her coming and hit the power locks. She started screaming at me and told me to never ever come back to her house again. She started accusing me of coming to her house and being disrespectful. I sped off down the street. Once I got home I saw I had a big knot on the side of my head and my left hip is bruised and sore and now at 1053pm I am really achy. I called the signing company that sent me out. They said oh my, send us a bill for your trip fee and printing! Take some aspirin. I am really peaved. I wanted to know whether you guys would file a police report for precautionary measures. The woman did not own the home so if I were to seek damages for my injuries I would have to go after the homeowner. Also I am concerned about possible retaliation from this nut!! She has my name and number .

Reply by Marian_in_CA on 4/14/09 10:07pm
Msg #285046

Well, I don't think you can press charges against her unless she is the one that actually touched you. Yelling at screaming at you to get out of her house isn't exactly an attack. Rude, nuts, crazy and completely bizarre? Sure... but illegal?

It wouldn't hurt to call the police and ask them, but they might not be able to do anything since you were the one in her home and apparently she didn't want you there.

As for it being her home vs. someoneelse... I'm sure you can sue the homeowner. But would you win?

How injured are you? A bump on the head? Did you go to the doctor? You'd likely have to provide a medical report to substantiate your claim.

As usual here... I'm just spewing personal opinion.

Reply by jba/fl on 4/14/09 10:16pm
Msg #285048

continuing Marian's thoughts:
If this woman was not the owner, why were you there? Who was she? How did she get your name and number?

Call the police and it will be she said vs. she said. Her property vs. trespasser, whether legal or not in her possession for the time. Unless she is known to them as a nut case, she has right to be upset with trespasser.

Again: JMO, I am not a lawyer, don't know much of anything of value except if I were to be a Jeopardy contestant.

Reply by Marian_in_CA on 4/14/09 10:22pm
Msg #285052

Julianne, I think she said she was called there for a settlement structure agreement, not loan papers.

Sometimes it's easy to forget that we do a lot of general notary work, too. In fact, that's the majority of my business these days.

Reply by jba/fl on 4/14/09 10:26pm
Msg #285053

Marian:
Missed that - too late and I'm skimming till I got to the OMG a nut case phase, then just focused on the final paragraphs. Makes a bit more sense now. I'm still flabbergasted at the story, albeit sadly.

Reply by Julie/MI on 4/14/09 10:18pm
Msg #285049

Maybe you should make a police report, but sleep on the rest. Once the situtation settles down in a couple of days, you may think differently, but the police report will tell your side of the story and if she was grabbing your car door and had other erratic behaviors and called you disrespectful, you may want that in writing to cover your behind.

Reply by A-1 Signing Agents, LLC on 4/14/09 10:34pm
Msg #285055

I've only had 2 bad experiences and boy is it scary. I pity the next SA who tried to conduct the signing. Sorry this happened to you.

Reply by MistarellaFL on 4/15/09 9:19am
Msg #285094

http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Assault

ASSAULT, crim. law. An assault is any unlawful attempt or offer with force or violence to do a corporal hurt to another, whether from malice or wantonness; for example, by striking at him or even holding up the fist at him in a threatening or insulting manner, or with other circumstances as denote at the time. an intention, coupled with a present ability, of actual violence against his person, as by pointing a weapon at him when he is within reach of it. 6 Rogers Rec: 9. When the injury is actually inflicted, it amounts to a battery. (q.v.)
2. Assaults are either simple or aggravated. 1. A simple assault is one Where there is no intention to do any other injury. This is punished at common law by fine and imprisonment. 2. An aggravated assault is one that has in addition to the bare intention to commit it, another object which is also criminal; for example, if a man should fire a pistol at another and miss him, the former would be guilty of an assault with intent to murder; so an assault with intent to rob a man, or with intent to spoil his clothes, and the like, are aggravated assaults, and they are more severely punished than simple assaults. General references, 1 East, P. C. 406; Bull. N. P. 15; Hawk. P. B. b. 1, c. 62, s. 12; 1 Russ. Cr. 604; 2 Camp. Rep. 650 1 Wheeler's Cr. C. 364; 6 Rogers' Rec. 9; 1 Serg. & Rawle, 347 Bac. Ab

Reply by trnsa_IL on 4/14/09 11:14pm
Msg #285059

Carla,

I shared this with my husband and we both agree you are lucky(blessed) that nothing worse happened. It may not hurt to report it to the police in case she did try to relatiate though I doubt she will.

These structured settlement signings never seem to work out, for me, anyway. They are usually in very, depressed areas and the people seem to be up against it. Of the many I have been asked to do only 2 have worked out. Many of them because the signer had no ID whatsoever.

I did turn one back because the signer only had a copy of her ID, so I wouldn't do it. She told the SS she had credible witnesses and they called me again. No can do. In IL it is virtually impossible to use CWs because I have to personally know the CWs. I was called several times on this one and turned it back every time because of the ID issue only to find out the IL SOS told me I could have accepted a copy!! What??? I called the SS back and explained and that according to the SOS I was wrong about the copy. They had gotten someone else to agree to do it with the CWs. Now, I know I wasn't wrong about that ,and I only hope the notary knew those CWs personally.

Hope you feel better soon! God Bless!
Tonya

Reply by Doris_CO on 4/14/09 11:19pm
Msg #285061

Everyone has given you good suggestions but I would add another. You should go either to your doctor or the emergency room and have you injury looked at. Head injuries shouldn't be taken lightly.

Reply by HrdwrkrVA on 4/16/09 12:26pm
Msg #285318

Right - poor Natasha Richardson! n/m

Reply by Ernest__CT on 4/15/09 12:16am
Msg #285070

Go immediately IN PERSON to the police!

The police will _see_ your injury. That's very important!

File a report giving as much information as you can. Taking a copy of your confirmation from the company that hired you, if possible, is A Good Idea. (You might want to black out the amount you were supposed to be paid on the copy.) That should be good proof that you were authorized to go to the house, whether or not it is owned by the person who was to sign.

You were _physically injured._ Whether the woman actually pushed you or you fell, you still were injured as a result of being in the building because you were told to enter by the aforesaid crazy person.

As other people have said, go to the hospital. Head injuries are no minor matter.

Consulting a local attorney wouldn't be a bad idea.

Reply by Pete/MD on 4/15/09 1:37am
Msg #285076

This sounds like Northwest or Northeast Baltimore.

I feel for you but I really think you need to consider the neighborhood before you take the signing. If there are rows of vacant homes then it is obviously a bad area (see 85% of Bmore).

These companies should not send women into these areas considering most men won't even get out of the car. I cover these areas and sometimes I feel a bit unsafe but I also have a permit to carry.

Good luck calling the cops. They won't do anything about this and if you try to sue, the woman probably has zero assets.

Reply by Deborah Lewellen on 4/15/09 8:31am
Msg #285091

Was this in Baltimore?

If this was in Baltimore, I'd consider very carefully what neighborhoods you go to, the money just aint worth it. My 26yr. old son is a BPD, and the horror stories he tells me that he encounters are unbelievable, and he's one cop among 3500. Last yr. Baltimore had more Violent Crime than any other city in the nation. (not murders, but overall Violent crime)
I was there twice last yr. and felt very uncomfortable traveling thru the city. My Son was driving and literally as we approached traffic lights, he had his gun in his lap the entire time.
So much is NOT reported on the news, it would overwhelm the public and the newspapers/newscasters, it would be nearly impossible to publish every crime committed in that city on a daily basis. Basically what the officers call it is Gun and Run, and believe me when I tell you, they go NONSTOP all day answering calls and crime suppression. If people really new what was going on, they'd stop going into the city.

Reply by Yowheelz on 4/15/09 8:54am
Msg #285093

Re: Was this in Baltimore?

Rule of thumb for downtown Baltimore or Wilmington, Always go early AM, all the dopers and wineo's are still asleep. I let my husband, a retired State Trooper go into bad neighborhoods where I don't feel safe and we try to stay out of the cities. We have a few real bad areas out here in the country. Unfortunately the TC's don't know the areas they are sending us to. It is up to us to protect ourselves and know where we are willing to go and where we refuse to go. I once had a borrower ask if it worried me going into strangers homes at night. My reply was: If you hurt me you don't get your money. This job is not for the feint of heart and I point this out to anyone who is considering becoming a signing agent. We have all been into nasty homes and put up with rude people. It is a part of going to stranger's homes. If you only want day jobs in high end neighborhoods stay out of the business.

Reply by MW/VA on 4/15/09 10:11am
Msg #285099

Sorry to hear of your experience & injuries. I'm thinking you should have called the police when you got into your car. SAFETY is always no. 1. I don't think I would have gone into the house in the first place. There is no transaction worth risking your life. There were obviously lot of safety issues, and you continued on. I know I would have called the ss or whoever I had taken the assignment from & told them NO WAY!! Whether you can sue or not--who knows--I think you're lucky to be alive!

Reply by Prosperity on 4/15/09 10:25am
Msg #285101

I remember a signing where the home had two "VERY BIG" dogs inside of a closed gate. No one answered the phone & no one would come to the gate. I kindly called the SS & told them I was leaving. I did stay around & let them attempt to call borrower as well, but they also didn't get an answer.

So sorry to hear about your encounter. I have a friend who is also a signing agent. He is a retired cop & he often takes his "friend" with him when he knows the neighborhood may not be safe.

Reply by VioCa on 4/15/09 10:33am
Msg #285102

I was sent to a structured settlement contract the other day and when I called to confirm the appointment I was told that there is no id available. The woman was very rude to me. I called the hiring co and informed that without an id I cannot proceed and guess what I found out. The woman was recently released from prison and that is why she does not have an id.
I could not believe that somebody would ask you to do a job without disclosing the facts. It has to be my decision if I want to take the job under those circumstances, right?
A few months ago the same company sent me to a mental institution where the client was hold for not being capable to stand trial. How could I notarize his signature under those circumstances. Same structured settlement contract. (I wasn't aware of that until I got to the place)
I am not blaming the signing service because most of the times they aren't informed either about all the circumstances, but after my experiences and what I read on this board I will be more carefull in accepting those kind of signings.

Reply by ReneeK_MI on 4/15/09 10:50am
Msg #285108

Am I the only one who sees the irony here?

Just a few spaces below, you have someone BEING sued and here someone WANTING to sue.

Such a litigious lot we are.

I'm not implying the injury should've been taken lightly - I am only wondering why we're always so fast with the filings that it seems we won't allow reasonable life to carry on. With absolute respect to your noggin, there's such a long list of bad stuff that can happen to a person that this isn't even on page 1.

Some things you chalk up, suck up, offer up, learn from, count your blessings, hope for some positive karma and carry on.

Reply by rengel/CA on 4/15/09 11:20am
Msg #285112

I see it too.

But more than that, the poster said that the person was not the homeowner. Which means, in that neighborhood, the person in the house most likely doesn't have a pot to pee in. So, you sue, what are you going to get? How are you getting $$ from???

What are you pressing charges for? You said that it was raining and you slipped on the stairs. The WET stairs.

My recommendation is that you take this neighborhood off your list to service and take structured settlements off your list of services.

I hope you heal soon.

Reply by LKT/CA on 4/15/09 1:05pm
Msg #285140

Renee...

1st poster said should she PRESS CHARGES.

Suing and "pressing charges" are two different things.

Suing = holding someone responsible for their actions CIVILLY

Pressing charges = holding someone responsible for their actions CRIMINALLY

jmho

Reply by ReneeK_MI on 4/15/09 1:24pm
Msg #285143

she also said "seek damages from homeowner" n/m

Reply by LKT/CA on 4/15/09 6:21pm
Msg #285209

Re: she also said "seek damages from homeowner"

She *asked* should she press charges - hence the title of the thread....she said if she "were" to seek damages...that's not a declaration of one suing. Okay, now that I've split hairs unnecessarily.....I've just shown myself to be as nutty as the crazy lady.....hahahahahahaha, heeheeheeheehee, LOL!!

Someone, help me to my padded room please.

Reply by LindaD/NJ on 4/15/09 11:40am
Msg #285121

Hey, Carla, Hope you are feeling better! Was this around the inner Harbor area? I had a similar experience 2 weeks ago. You sometimes get a heads up when you first call them and I just knew this would be a strange one. Not that I expected the gentleman (stretching that one!) to start screaming, cursing, and pointing his finger at me very angrily. Tried to explain to him, He can call his LO and I will call title, but of course he wanted me to somehow fix the docs right then and there. He had put his mom on application for a better rate, and did not realize that he in turn made her part of the process and note. I quickly dialled title as I was running out the door they heard him screaming and cursing. I thought I lost my glasses there but found them in the back seat the next day. I literally threw everything in the car and took off. Whewwww I am glad I haven't had many of them! The next day a few signing services were shopping around for a notary for this one. Of course for a much cheaper rate.

Reply by Gary_CA on 4/15/09 3:15pm
Msg #285176

Let sleeping dogs lie.

This lady is CRAZY, leave her alone.

Put some ice on that bump and go on with life... if you pursue this you're gonna get a lot more drama than money.

Reply by Carla_MD on 4/15/09 4:33pm
Msg #285188

Re: Let sleeping dogs lie.

I am not interested in getting rich off of this situation. If anything I want the whole thing to be put behind me. However, this is my lively hood. My concern is about my personal safety and seeing how I have to question the mental stability of this character, her coming back after to me is a valid if? If something transpired later on then I need documentation to verify the occurence. The signing service that sent me there just said oh so sorry. Take some asprin. Did they take me seriously, I think not. They just went searching for another notary to take the job and probably did not disclose the details of what transpired earlier with this client. For those who inquired this was in NW Baltimore. I have done many, many structured settlements and I have had some characters (mostly illiterate) but not crazy like this lady.

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 4/15/09 6:12pm
Msg #285206

Re: Let sleeping dogs lie....Carla

"If something transpired later on then I need documentaon to verify the occurence"

If that's how you truly feel you blew it already....you should have called the police from your vehicle as I believe it was Marilynn suggested - get the police to document the incident right then and there. Then your injuries on the scene are documented immediately also. Notifying authorities after the fact and reporting injuries well after the fact only begs the question "did it happen there or elsewhere?'...everything is now your word against hers - I'm sure her witness isn't going to jump to your support.

Unfortunately, I feel as it stands now, you have no choice but to learn from it, put it behind you and move on.


JMO

Reply by Todd/OH on 4/15/09 7:01pm
Msg #285219

I have to agree with Gary

Put some ice on it and leave it alone. Tell the signing company what happened and move on.

Reply by HrdwrkrVA on 4/16/09 12:56pm
Msg #285334

I have to agree with Gary & Todd

It's Not worth the headache. In 2007, I was actually held HOSTAGE!!!!
- midnight, just finished having 3 ppl sign a 2000 page doc in two hrs
- husband leabves rm w/ copy
- comes up bellowing 'She'll (me) leave here over my dead body' & proceeds to block the doorway w/ his 6'5+ frame
- daughter & wife prceed to ope my shut briefcase & STEAL the SIGNED copy as well
- meanwhile I'm calling 911 saying I'm being held against my will (to which one of them yells: "she can go now - we got what we want"
- TWO squad cars show up, give the BO the signed copies back saying "It's a civil matter" - if it had been OJ, it would have been on court TV & TMZ, but alas I'm just a lowly notary nobody!
The kicker? The next day, they took it to a lawyer, who told them everthing was in order & THEY SENT IT IN THEMSELVES (lawyer fee + my fee + S&H fee)!!! Besides the irony of all the triple fees - I was terrified (Cold Case, City Confidential, Snapped... you see where I'm going w/ this)! They lived on the outskirts of some woods (good for hiding bodies), they had two separate driveways w/ a bunch of broken-down cars (good for hiding bodies) & of course the SS & LO weren't answering my calls at that hour (good for killling someone, hiding the body & saying I never showed up).

Hey, I'm not exaggerating: think TheTexas Chain Saw Massacre:
- father: cross btwn Frankenstein & Jethro (Bev Hillbillies)
- mother: the most normal of the bunch
- daughter: seemed to have some kind of tic, causing her to guffaw uncontrollably, almost like a hiccup.

Bottom line: be glad you ONLY got a bump on the head - we sometimes have a dangerous profession - who knew??????

Reply by Brian Dayton on 5/20/09 4:02pm
Msg #289324

Just yelling is not a crime. However if she said she would attack you it is then a common assault in Maryland. The act of her attemping to "get at you" in the car is a attempted assault.

You can just goto a court commissioner without a police report. Kinda sounds like a Baltimore house? So you can call the cour commissioners on calvert street.

I dont care what anyone here advises. Dont be a victim under any circumstances. The court commissioner will decide if enough probable cause exists to issue a warrant or a criminal summons.

Its really not a big deal to seek criminal charges if you are assaulted. If charges are granted then the papers are served on the defendant, you goto court and the ASA and the Judge takes it from there.

JUST DONT BE A VICTIM. EVER.