Can I seek damages?

[pifyky]

I'd like to know if I can seek damages (lost work opportunities, lost time in traveling and dealing with an unnecessary situation and willful endangerment of my health)? I entrusted a friend with 'taking care of' of my work tools (computer, camera, etc.) She agreed gladly to do so and agreed to send it back at my expense when I asked. When it came time to get my things back she began to evade me completely (blocking me from Facebook, hanging up the phone when I called, ignoring texts/emails/voicemails). As I got concerned I proceeded to deal with this over the course of almost two months gradually escalating my approach knowing that this could turn legal and expecting the worse. My final step before I took this to a civil court was to literally travel to where she was at my expense and ask for my things personally and politely. She was not at this location when I arrived but her roommate contacted her for me. She again practiced evasion by trying not to specify any time and place I could get my things and accused me of trespassing her property–a way to intimidate me and get me to leave without my things so that she could perhaps carry out a disappearance–saying I should leave immediately that I had no right to be there. I said I would not leave until I got my things so I compelled her to give me a time she'd be home. I waited until this time, at which point she did not show up and I called the police to file a report for a court hearing. As soon as I informed her of this and that she was on speaker phone with a witness and that she was being recorded, she began to collaborate by 'being nice'. After another hour of waiting she showed up and acted 'perfectly' in front of my witnesses and her boyfriend. I got my things and left in the dark and cold of winter as I had not way to secure transportation. Though I'm happy I got my things, I've lost a lot of time and resources dealing with this and I believe her actions prove wrongful intent of either harming my livelihood or keeping my things hoping I would lose her trail. Do I have a case?

 

[army judge]

I'd like to know if I can seek damages (lost work opportunities, lost time in traveling and dealing with an unnecessary situation and willful endangerment of my health)? I entrusted a friend with 'taking care of' of my work tools (computer, camera, etc.) She agreed gladly to do so and agreed to send it back at my expense when I asked. When it came time to get my things back she began to evade me completely (blocking me from Facebook, hanging up the phone when I called, ignoring texts/emails/voicemails). As I got concerned I proceeded to deal with this over the course of almost two months gradually escalating my approach knowing that this could turn legal and expecting the worse. My final step before I took this to a civil court was to literally travel to where she was at my expense and ask for my things personally and politely. She was not at this location when I arrived but her roommate contacted her for me. She again practiced evasion by trying not to specify any time and place I could get my things and accused me of trespassing her property–a way to intimidate me and get me to leave without my things so that she could perhaps carry out a disappearance–saying I should leave immediately that I had no right to be there. I said I would not leave until I got my things so I compelled her to give me a time she'd be home. I waited until this time, at which point she did not show up and I called the police to file a report for a court hearing. As soon as I informed her of this and that she was on speaker phone with a witness and that she was being recorded, she began to collaborate by 'being nice'. After another hour of waiting she showed up and acted 'perfectly' in front of my witnesses and her boyfriend. I got my things and left in the dark and cold of winter as I had not way to secure transportation. Though I'm happy I got my things, I've lost a lot of time and resources dealing with this and I believe her actions prove wrongful intent of either harming my livelihood or keeping my things hoping I would lose her trail. Do I have a case?

Sigh, no, you have no case.
Not every human transgression rises to the level of tortious conduct.
You can, of course, sue her anyway.
But, that'll only cost you more money and time.
But hey, this is the good ole USA, ain't it?
If it were me, I'd be happy I had my crap back.
But, you can choose to do otherwise.
Either way, good luck.