LAW & YOU
ARTIST
trucks to consumers every day without disclosing prior serious damage. Some have been in wrecks, some have flood or water damage, and some are even “lemons,” taken back by the dealership under the “Lemon Law,” and then re-sold without disclosing the fact they were prior “lemons.” Simply put, the law is clear that a seller of a vehicle must disclose any significant information about the car or truck that is material to a buyer. To hide this information is called “Fraudulent Concealment” and also may violate provisions of the Consumers Legal Remedies Act. Violations of these laws could result in legal action and, sometimes, large verdicts against the wrongdoers. Some lawyers I know in Oklahoma have been extremely successful in obtaining justice for folks who get cheated this way. They recently had a trial involving a man who had been sold a BMW that had been wrecked and repaired. The dealership never told him about the prior wreck. To make matters worse, when the man found out he had been duped, the dealership refused to take the car back, and started creating false documents and lying about the whole transaction. The jury wasn’t fooled, and was apparently pretty upset with the shenanigans of the dealership and it’s lawyers. The verdict came in last week at over $250,000 to compensate the man for the whole ordeal and to punish the dealership for ripping off its customers. That’s a pretty strong message. So, if you find out someone has hidden the truth from you intentionally, you may have legal rights and various remedies. Consult a lawyer who specializes in consumer law and protection. As always, read everything before you sign, and put everything in writing!
that good art is defined by its ability to affect humans. “Bob’s art affects you in a positive way,” he said. In 2005 Hord moved to Costa Mesa to be closer to his three grandchildren. During that time he expanded his repertoire by making cigar box guitars. “Someone said, ‘That’s cool. Would you make me one?” he said. Hord was surprised to learn both about the history of the guitar, which goes back to the Civil War, and a surge in popularity today with websites that cater to what is known today as Cigar Box Nation.With only three strings, Hord says the guitars are easy to play. “It’s always fun to see someone pick up something that I’ve made and have it sound good,” he said, adding that he’s equipped some instruments with a piezo transducer that can be plugged into an amplifier. Earlier this year, Hord decided to return to the arts community in Encinitas. “There is nothing like being here,” he said. “I missed being back in the art world,and having friends in the art world.” Already, his fine art has been exhibited in three local shows, such as the Cardiff 100th Year Birthday Centennial and Elks Club. Currently, he has three pieces at the My Best Friend pet portrait exhibit at the Encinitas Library. While Hord seems like a shy, soft-spoken guy, he writes and performs what he calls “goofy songs” at “ship launchings, snake handler conferences and Star Trek conventions” through his alter ego, Meaty Ochre (mediocre). “He’s been sponging off of
CONTINUED FROM A5
Michael Vallee is a practicing trial attorney whose firm focuses on consumer law, personal injury and wrongful death cases. He is a consumer legal contributor for The Coast News. Contact him at info@valleelaw.com.
A23
THE COAST NEWS
AUG. 5, 2011 CONTINUED FROM A2
SMOKIN’ STRINGS !"#$"%&'()*$(+$,%-.)$/(0$-1%'.)&$,.2$/#$').,#3$'($'"#$4%5%6$7.)$8"#)#$&(63%#)&$8(163$9.:#$'"#$%9;)(5%&#3$%2&')19#2'&$.& .$8.*$'($".5#$&(9#$#2'#)'.%29#2'$8"#2$'"#*$8#)#2<'$#2-.-#3$%2$/.''6#= Photo by Lillian Cox
me since the 1980s,” Hord said, wryly. Hord will be making Meaty Ochre available to a mass audience through a video in the works where he and his “characters” will be performing original songs such as, “I’m in the dog house ever since the cathouse moved into the neighborhood.” He’s also penned books for friends including, “‘Nanners: An Apeeling Look at the Dayto-Day Life of a Banana through the Eyes of Bob Hord.” The book is a compilation of cartoons of bananas in various personalities: Santa
Banana, with a peel curved like a white beard, and Carlos Sananna, a banana playing double-neck guitar. “A lot of my inspiration comes from absurdities of dayto-day life,” Hord said. “I see the world as a cartoon in a lot of respects.” For more information,visit Hord’s websites at bobhord.com (art), smokeboxbob.com (cigar box guitars) and flashhog.com (animation). Hord can be reached at (760) 944-3858.
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