Loaned Brother-in-law Money That He Won't Pay Back

[imjmieslv72]

In Sept. of 2008 I loaned my brother-in-law $1500 for his custody case, they said they would pay me back when they got back their income tax. Income tax time came and they could only pay me back $750, now he is saying that he doesn't owe me the money. I got an A-frame from my Grandmother's house that was my dad's, it got stolen, and my bil says that my dad (who is deceased) gave him the a-frame and that it was worth $800 (even though my bil never had possession of it) so he doesn't owe me the $750. However, my father did not leave it to him in his will, his will isn't even valid because it was not signed on all of the pages. Should I take him to small claims court over it?

 

[army judge]

Your first mistake was believing he'd repay you from his income tax refund.
No one ever gets paid back with anyone's income tax refund.
Should you sue him?
If I were you, I'd forget it.
I'd also stop communicating with this deadbeat.
Your BIL is a deadbeat and a loser.
If you sue, that decision rests with you.
Yes, he can be sued.
But, even if you win, he still won't pay.
You'd have a judgment on which you'd have to collect.
Beyond that, the statute of limitations may have expired.
And, without a signed promissory note, what proof do you have of the loan?
It's time to let this go, but use it as a lesson learned.